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. 2023 Apr 12;10(5):819-823.
doi: 10.1002/mdc3.13727. eCollection 2023 May.

Long-Lasting Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Their Relatives

Andreas Wolfgang Wolff  1 , Bernhard Haller  2 , Antonia Franziska Demleitner  1 , Dominik Pürner  1 , Johanna Niederschweiberer  1 , Isabell Cordts  1 , Erica Westenberg  1 , Paul Lingor  1   3   4
Affiliations

Long-Lasting Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Their Relatives

Andreas Wolfgang Wolff et al. Mov Disord Clin Pract. .

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has heavily impacted medical care of patients with Parkinson's disease (PwP).

Objective: To assess the longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PwP and their relatives in Germany.

Methods: Two online, nationwide, cross-sectional surveys were conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 and from July to September 2021.

Results: A total of 342 PwP and 113 relatives participated. Despite partial resumption of social and group activities, healthcare was continuously disrupted during times of loosened restrictions. Respondents' willingness to use telehealth infrastructure increased, yet the availability remained low. PwP reported worsened symptoms and further deterioration during the pandemic, resulting in an increase in new symptoms and relatives' burden. We identified patients at particular risk: young patients and those with long disease duration.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic persistently disrupts the care and quality of life of PwP. Although willingness to use telemedicine services has increased, its availability needs to be improved.

Keywords: COVID‐19; Parkinson's disease; medical care; pandemic; symptom burden; telemedicine.

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Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
(A) Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on parkinsonian symptoms. (B) Impact on activities of daily life. (C) Impact on supplementary therapies and supportive activities. (D) Impact on medical care. (E) Impact on advanced therapies. PD, Parkinson's disease; GP, general practitioner; NL, neurologist; HS, hospital; PT, pump therapy (eg, LCIG, CSAI); DBS, deep brain stimulation. For each symptom/activity, upper bars: first survey (December 15, 2020 to March 31, 2021), lower bars: second survey (July 07, 2021 to September 20, 2021). Results are given as percentage of the whole without missing values. P‐values refer to comparisons of first versus second survey (Fisher's exact tests).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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