The relationship between quality of life and swallowing in Parkinson's disease

TLDR

Few studies investigate how idiopathic Parkinson's disease affects swallow‑related quality of life. The study aimed to evaluate swallow‑specific quality of life in IPD, examine its relationship with disease duration and severity, and explore its links to general health‑related quality of life and depression. Thirty‑six IPD patients with and without dysphagia completed the SWAL‑QOL, PDQ‑39, and Beck Depression Inventory, and statistical analyses (Mann‑Whitney U tests and Spearman correlations) compared groups and examined associations with disease metrics. Dysphagic patients reported lower total SWAL‑QOL, mental health, and social domain scores; no link to disease duration or severity, but significant negative correlations with general health‑related quality of life and depression, highlighting psychosocial impacts of swallowing impairment. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society.

Abstract

Abstract Few studies exist in the literature investigating the impact of idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (IPD) on swallow‐related quality of life. We therefore aimed in this project to: (1) evaluate swallow‐specific quality of life in IPD; (2) delineate potential relationships between IPD duration and severity with swallow‐specific quality of life; (3) investigate relationships between swallow‐specific quality of life and general health‐related quality of life; and (4) investigate relationships between swallow‐specific quality of life and depression. Thirty‐six patients diagnosed with IPD with and without dysphagia filled out self‐report assessments of the SWAL‐QOL, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire‐39 (PDQ‐39), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). A series of Mann Whitney U tests were performed between non‐dysphagic and dysphagic groups for the total SWAL‐QOL score and the 10 SWAL‐QOL domains. Spearman's Rho correlation analyses were performed between the SWAL‐QOL and (1) PDQ‐39; (2) Hoehn and Yahr stage; (3) PD disease duration; (4) UPDRS “on” score; and (5) the BDI. The dysphagia swallowing group reported significant reductions compared to the non‐dysphagic group for the total SWAL‐QOL score ( P = 0.02), mental health domain score ( P = 0.002) and social domain score ( P = 0.002). No relationships existed between swallow‐specific quality of life and disease duration or severity. Significant relationships existed between swallow‐specific quality of life and general health‐related quality of life ( r s =−0.56, P = 0.000) and depression ( r s = −0.48, P = 0.003). These exploratory data highlight the psychosocial sequelae that swallowing impairment can have in those with IPD and suggest a possible association between swallowing, social function, and depression. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society