The Relationship Between The Severity Of The Disease And The Amount Of Drugs And The Length Of Therapy With The Quality Of Life Of Patients With Parkinson's Disease

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The Relationship Between the Severity of the Disease and the Amount of Drugs and the Length of Therapy with the Quality of Life of Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Introduction

Parkinson's disease is a progressive chronic neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. The quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease is a crucial parameter that needs to be evaluated, especially in the context of disease management. The severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy are all important factors that can impact the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. This study aims to understand the relationship between these factors and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

The Importance of Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease

The quality of life is a multidimensional concept that encompasses physical, emotional, and social well-being. In the context of Parkinson's disease, the quality of life is particularly important because the disease can have a significant impact on a person's daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. The quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease is often affected by the severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy. Therefore, it is essential to understand the relationship between these factors and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Research Methodology

This study uses a cross-sectional approach, which involves collecting data from patients with Parkinson's disease who visit the neurology polyclinic at H. Adam Malik Hospital Medan, USU Hospital, and Bukit Barisan Kesdam Hospital between April and November 2020. The inclusion criteria for the study are patients with Parkinson's disease who are at least 18 years old and have a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. The severity of the disease is evaluated using the Hoehn and Yahr scale, while the quality of life is measured using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39). The PDQ-39 is a widely used tool that assesses the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Research Results

The study involves 47 patients with Parkinson's disease who meet the inclusion criteria. The majority of the patients are men (68.1%), with an average age of 64.82 ± 9.52 years. The majority of the patients have a tertiary education (46.8%) and work as civil servants (34.0%). Ethnically, 53.2% of the patients come from the Batak tribe. The analysis shows that 55.3% of the patients are at the severity of the disease level 2, while 74.5% use polytherapy, and 72.3% have a therapy length of less than 5 years. The median value of the quality of life obtained is 35, with the lowest score of 10 and the highest 98.

Bivariate Analysis

The bivariate analysis reveals a very strong and significant relationship between the severity of the disease and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease (p <0.001; r = 0.872). This suggests that the severity of the disease has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, the analysis shows a significant difference between the number of drugs used and the quality of life of patients (p = 0.041), as well as a significant difference between the length of therapy and the quality of life of patients (p <0.001). These findings suggest that the amount of drugs used and the length of therapy also have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Conclusion

This study shows that there is a very strong relationship between the severity of the disease and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, the amount of drugs used and the length of therapy also have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. These findings highlight the importance of proper management of the severity of the disease, the selection of the amount of drugs, and the length of therapy to improve the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. By understanding this relationship, it is hoped that more effective steps can be taken in the care and management of Parkinson's disease, in order to improve the welfare of the lives of their sufferers.

Implications of the Study

The findings of this study have several implications for the care and management of Parkinson's disease. Firstly, the study highlights the importance of proper management of the severity of the disease, which can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Secondly, the study suggests that the amount of drugs used and the length of therapy also have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Therefore, healthcare providers should carefully consider these factors when managing patients with Parkinson's disease. Finally, the study suggests that more effective steps can be taken in the care and management of Parkinson's disease, in order to improve the welfare of the lives of their sufferers.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the study is a cross-sectional study, which means that it only provides a snapshot of the relationship between the severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy with the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. Secondly, the study only involves patients with Parkinson's disease who visit the neurology polyclinic at H. Adam Malik Hospital Medan, USU Hospital, and Bukit Barisan Kesdam Hospital between April and November 2020. Therefore, the findings of the study may not be generalizable to other populations. Finally, the study only uses the Hoehn and Yahr scale and the PDQ-39 to assess the severity of the disease and the quality of life of patients, respectively. Therefore, the study may not capture the full complexity of the relationship between the severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy with the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Future Directions

This study provides several directions for future research. Firstly, future studies should investigate the relationship between the severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy with the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease in different populations. Secondly, future studies should investigate the impact of other factors, such as age, sex, and ethnicity, on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. Finally, future studies should investigate the effectiveness of different interventions, such as medication, physical therapy, and cognitive therapy, in improving the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

References

Q: What is Parkinson's disease?

A: Parkinson's disease is a progressive chronic neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, leading to symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.

Q: What is the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease?

A: The quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease is a multidimensional concept that encompasses physical, emotional, and social well-being. It is often affected by the severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy.

Q: What is the relationship between the severity of the disease and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease?

A: The study found a very strong and significant relationship between the severity of the disease and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. This suggests that the severity of the disease has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients.

Q: What is the impact of the amount of drugs used on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease?

A: The study found a significant difference between the number of drugs used and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. This suggests that the amount of drugs used also has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients.

Q: What is the impact of the length of therapy on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease?

A: The study found a significant difference between the length of therapy and the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease. This suggests that the length of therapy also has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients.

Q: What are the implications of the study for the care and management of Parkinson's disease?

A: The study highlights the importance of proper management of the severity of the disease, the selection of the amount of drugs, and the length of therapy to improve the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study has several limitations, including its cross-sectional design, the limited sample size, and the use of only two measures to assess the severity of the disease and the quality of life of patients.

Q: What are the future directions for research on Parkinson's disease and quality of life?

A: Future studies should investigate the relationship between the severity of the disease, the amount of drugs used, and the length of therapy with the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease in different populations. Additionally, studies should investigate the impact of other factors, such as age, sex, and ethnicity, on the quality of life of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Q: What can patients with Parkinson's disease do to improve their quality of life?

A: Patients with Parkinson's disease can take several steps to improve their quality of life, including:

  • Working with their healthcare provider to manage their symptoms and develop a treatment plan
  • Engaging in regular exercise and physical activity
  • Participating in cognitive therapy and other forms of therapy to improve cognitive function
  • Connecting with others who have Parkinson's disease through support groups and online communities
  • Prioritizing self-care and stress management techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing

Q: What can caregivers and family members do to support patients with Parkinson's disease?

A: Caregivers and family members can take several steps to support patients with Parkinson's disease, including:

  • Educating themselves about the disease and its symptoms
  • Encouraging patients to engage in regular exercise and physical activity
  • Helping patients to develop a treatment plan and stick to it
  • Providing emotional support and connecting patients with others who have Parkinson's disease
  • Encouraging patients to prioritize self-care and stress management techniques

Q: Where can patients with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers find more information and support?

A: Patients with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers can find more information and support through:

  • The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF)
  • The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF)
  • The Parkinson's Disease Association (PDA)
  • Online support groups and forums
  • Local support groups and advocacy organizations