Conceptualizing a Personalized Care Pathway for Parkinson's Disease Using Wearable Sensors in Muslim Patients: The Ramadan Regimen

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects approximately 2% of individuals over the age of 60. With over two billion Muslims observing Ramadan, individuals with PD encounter specific challenges, such as deteriorating motor skills, sleep disturbances, and an increased risk of falls during fasting. Our study focused on 75 patients with idiopathic PD divided into two groups: the Ramadan Regimen group, consisting of 50 patients who adjusted their medication to twice daily at Suhoor and Iftar, and the Non-Treatment group, which included 25 patients who abstained from medication for religious reasons. Both groups were instructed to wear a Parkinson's Kinetigraph (PKG) wrist device. Study findings showed that motor function worsened in the non-treatment group (p < .001), while it improved in the Ramadan Regimen group (p = .007). Daytime sleepiness also significantly increased in the non-treatment group (p < .001). Overall, findings suggest that Ramadan regime significantly enhance patient health and quality of life.