Objective: to assess the prevalence of probable rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and its correlation with other sleep parameters.
Background: REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), a parasomnia characterized by dream enacting and complex motor behaviors during REM sleep, is a frequent finding in Parkinson’s disease.
Method: 131 patients with Parkinson’s disease from a single center were evaluated for the presence of RBD using the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ), a cut-off score of 6 or greater being considered suggestive for probable RBD (pRBD+). Sleep dysfunction was assessed using Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2), Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease – Sleep (SCOPA-Sleep) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The quality of life of patients included in the study was assessed with Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39) while cognitive disorders were screened by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Clinical data regarding age, gender, disease duration, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) scores and modified Hoehn and Yahr stage were analyzed, comparing them between patients with and without probable RBD.
Results: A RBDSQ score of 6 or greater was identified in 29.7% of patients (n=39; pRBD+), out of whom 55.6% (n=22) were male. pRBD+ had longer disease duration compared to pRBD- patients (6.0±4.4 years vs. 4.6±4.0 years, p=0.11). pRBD+ patients had higher PDSS-2 (30.1±10.5 vs 22.0±9.8, p<0.0001) and SCOPA-Sleep scores (15.3±6.8 vs 12.7±6.3, p=0.04). Worse PDQ-39 Summary Index scores were found in pRBD+ patients (30.3±16.8 vs 21.9±12.5, p=0.002). No significant differences were found in age, H-Y stage, MDS-UPDRS part III, ESS, MMSE and MoCA scores between pRBD+ and pRBD- patients
Conclusion: RBD is frequent in PD patients and is associated with sleep dysfunction and impaired quality of life.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
S. Diaconu, L. Ungureanu, A. Zarnoveanu, B. Ciopleias, V. Vasile, A. Iacob, T. Moldovan, C. Falup-Pecurariu. REM sleep behaviour disorder in Parkinson’s disease: prevalence and correlation with other sleep parameters [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2023; 38 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/rem-sleep-behaviour-disorder-in-parkinsons-disease-prevalence-and-correlation-with-other-sleep-parameters/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to 2023 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/rem-sleep-behaviour-disorder-in-parkinsons-disease-prevalence-and-correlation-with-other-sleep-parameters/