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Review
. 2021;11(2):431-444.
doi: 10.3233/JPD-202320.

Parkinson's Disease and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Conor Fearon  1 , Alfonso Fasano  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

Parkinson's Disease and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Conor Fearon et al. J Parkinsons Dis. 2021.

Abstract

Studies focusing on the relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and Parkinson's disease (PD) have provided conflicting results. We review the literature to investigate: 1) Are PD patients at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and are there specific contributing factors to that risk? 2) How does COVID-19 affect PD symptoms? 3) How does COVID-19 present in PD patients? 4) What are the outcomes in PD patients who contract COVID-19? 5) What is the impact of COVID-19 on PD care? 6) Does COVID-19 increase the risk of developing PD? A literature search was performed from 1979 to 2020 using the terms: 'Parkinson's disease' and 'parkinsonism' combined with: 'COVID-19'; 'SARS-CoV-2' and 'coronavirus'. It does not appear that PD is a specific risk factor for COVID-19. There is evidence for direct/indirect effects of SARS-CoV-2 on motor/non-motor symptoms of PD. Although many PD patients present with typical COVID-19 symptoms, some present atypically with isolated worsening of parkinsonian symptoms, requiring increased anti-PD therapy and having worse outcomes. Mortality data on PD patients with COVID-19 is inconclusive (ranging from 5.2%to 100%). Patients with advanced PD appear to be particularly vulnerable. Single cases of acute hypokinetic-rigid syndrome have been described but no other convincing data has been reported. The rapidity with which COVID-19 has swept across the globe has favored the proliferation of studies which lack scientific rigor and the PD literature has not been immune. A coordinated effort is required to assimilate data and answer these questions in larger PD cohorts.

Keywords: COVID-19; Parkinson’s disease; review.

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Conflict of interest statement

AF reports consultancy support from Abbvie, Ab}bott, Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Sunovion, Chiesi farmaceutici, UCB and Ipsen; advisory board support from Abbvie, Abbott, Ceregate, Boston Scientific and Ipsen; other honoraria from Abbvie, Abbott, Med}tronic, Boston Scientific, Sunovion, Chiesi farmaceutici, UCB and Ipsen; grants from University of Toronto, Michael J. Fox Foundation, Abbvie, Med}tronic and Boston Scientific.

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