Motor Symptoms Worsen in Patients With Parkinson Disease, Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Patients with Parkinson disease and post-COVID-19 syndrome showed an aggravation of motor symptoms as well as new non-motor symptoms over 6 months, according to a study published online in Medicine International. 

“The present study demonstrated that the levodopa equivalent daily dose and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III scores exhibited significant difference at baseline and at 6 months following infection with COVID-19 in patients with Parkinson disease with post-COVID-19 syndrome symptoms,” wrote a research team in Greece.

The prospective study included 38 patients with Parkinson disease and post-COVID-19 syndrome, defined as symptoms or abnormalities that persist for more than 12 weeks after the onset of acute COVID-19. Researchers compared them with 20 patients with Parkinson disease and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection but without post-COVID-19 syndrome. Patients were matched for age, sex, and disease duration.

The most common new onset symptoms in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome were loss of smell and a sore throat (73.7%), followed by loss of taste and skin rashes (65.8%), according to the study. Among patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, male sex was significantly associated with reports of pain, headaches, and sleep disturbance. 

When researchers compared patients with and without post-COVID-19 syndrome, they found no statistically significant differences in demographics or specific scores on various rating scales or assessments between the two groups. Consequently, they could not identify any prognostic factors for post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients with Parkinson disease.

Patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome did, however, differ significantly from those without post-COVID-19 syndrome in levodopa equivalent daily dose and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Part III scores.

“The deterioration of motor symptoms may be explained by stress, physical inactivity, pharmacodynamic effects, marked changes in routine, and social isolation with a subsequent increase in levodopa equivalent daily dose,” researchers wrote.

Reference: 
Bougea A, Georgakopoulou VE, Palkopoulou M, et al. New‑onset non‑motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease and post‑COVID‑19 syndrome: a prospective cross‑sectional study. Med Int. 2023;3(3):23. doi:10.3892/mi.2023.83