Objective: To evaluate the results of feasibility and effectiveness of multidisciplinary home-telehealth intervention program to reduce falls and improve quality of life in patients with Parkinson´s disease (PD).
Background: Falls in PD are very frequent with increasing comorbidity, mortality, socio-health costs, and decreased quality of life. Healthcare services have been compromised during the COVID-19 pandemic and patients with PD have limited access to multidisciplinary interventions.
Method: Ongoing, longitudinal, two-group randomized controlled study where patients with idiopathic PD, without cognitive impairment, high risk of falling, and restricted access to multidisciplinary care. Two study groups were followed during 8 months at the Neurology Unit (Hospital Universitario de Burgos). Study group, with telerehabilitation and multidisciplinary telemedicine visits, and control group, using the best usual medical practice. Clinical data were collected using a diary of falls, NMSS, BDI-II, LARS, PDSS, WHOQOL-BREF, MDS-UPDRS, and Hoehn and Yahr stage.
Results: The results of the first 28 patients were analyzed [15 males (53.6%), 13 females (46.4%)], mean age 68.86 + 9.22 years old. There were no significant differences between both groups in the incidence of falls, in sleep quality, or in the total score of the MDS-UPDRS. Significant improvements were found in the study group compared to the control group in the evaluation of non-motor symptoms NMSS (p=.013), depression BDI-II (p=.004), apathy LARS (p=.0001) and quality of life WHOQOL-BREF (p=.050).
Conclusion: The results obtained to date have shown that the telemedicine program has not been effective in reducing falls, improving sleep quality, or reducing motor symptoms of PD, but it has been effective in reducing non-motor symptoms, depression, apathy and to improve quality of life. The final results of this study will allow us to study the feasibility and efficacy of remote health care to prevent falls and improve quality of life in patients with PD, allowing equity in the distribution and access to specialized health care.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. García-Bustillo, A. Olivares-Gil, JL. Garrido-Labrador, JM. Ramírez-Sanz, A. Arnaiz-González, F. Valiñas-Sieiro, M. Allende-Río, JJ. González-Bernal, J. González-Santos, JF. Díez-Pastor, M. Jahouh, JM. Trejo-Gabriel-Galán, E. Cubo. Feasibility and efficacy of a multidisciplinary home-telehealth intervention program to reduce falls and improve quality of life in Parkinson´s disease. First results. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2022; 37 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-and-efficacy-of-a-multidisciplinary-home-telehealth-intervention-program-to-reduce-falls-and-improve-quality-of-life-in-parkinsons-disease-first-results/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2022 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-and-efficacy-of-a-multidisciplinary-home-telehealth-intervention-program-to-reduce-falls-and-improve-quality-of-life-in-parkinsons-disease-first-results/