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PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTONOMIC DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE PATIENTS AT CAN THO CENTRAL GENERAL HOSPITAL
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Abstract
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with the depletion of dopamine levels, commonly affecting older adults. In addition to motor symptoms, autonomic dysfunction is frequently observed among PD patients and may even precede motor symptoms. In Can Tho, no prior studies have described the clinical characteristics and prevalence of autonomic dysfunction in PD patients. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of autonomic dysfunction and describe its clinical characteristics in Parkinson’s disease patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 PD patients diagnosed according to the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria, admitted to Can Tho Central General Hospital from April 2023 to February 2025. Results: The study included 50 PD patients with a mean age of 70.6±10.8 years, 48% of whom were male. The prevalence of autonomic dysfunction, assessed using the SCOPA-AUT scale, was 82%, with 70% of patients experiencing dysfunction in two or more autonomic domains. The prevalence of autonomic dysfunction across domains was as follows: gastrointestinal (76%), cardiovascular (60%), urinary (50%), thermoregulatory-sweating (32%), sexual (14%), and pupillary (6%). Orthostatic hypotension was observed in 28% of patients, with 78.6% exhibiting clinical symptoms. The mean UPDRS-III and PDQ-8 scores were 22.6±8.0 and 7.7±3.8, respectively. Patients with autonomic dysfunction had significantly higher UPDRS-III and PDQ-8 scores compared to those without autonomic dysfunction (p<0.05). Conclusion: Autonomic dysfunction is common in PD patients, affecting over 82% of the study population. Orthostatic hypotension was prevalent, with the majority of patients showing clinical manifestations. PD patients with autonomic dysfunction exhibited more severe motor symptoms and a poorer quality of life compared to those without autonomic dysfunction
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Keywords
Parkinson’s disease, autonomic dysfunction, SCOPA-AUT
References
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