Burden of non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease: cost-of-illness and quality-of-life estimates through a scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive, chronic neurodegenerative disease, representing significant economic and social burdens. It is typically defined by motor symptoms (MSs), however, this does not reflect the full patient burden. Non-motor symptoms (NMSs) are increasingly recognized as central characteristics of PD. However, they still lack recognition in research. Therefore, this study aims to identify relevant NMSs, their prevalence, and the effect they have on Quality-of-Life (QoL) and Cost-of-Illness (COI). Secondly, it aims to identify gaps in the current body of knowledge and propose possible ways future research could bridge those gaps.

Methods: The study employed a scoping review, identifying 60 records for inclusion, using PubMed and Web of Science. It included studies from Spain or Italy, including data on People with Parkinson's Disease. A comparative analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel.

Results: It showed that the body of evidence relevant to NMSs, their prevalence, QoL, and COI is limited, or that estimates vary to an extent where interpretation is difficult.

Conclusion: Most studies suffer from generalization, representation, and standardization issues, stemming from their designs and methodological decisions. Although the findings of this study should be interpreted with caution, several recommendations are made for future research.

Keywords: Prevalence; cost-of-illness; non-motor symptoms; parkinson’s disease; quality-of-life.