The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Parkinson's Disease

• Published in: Journal of Parkinson's disease Vol. 10; no. 4; pp. 1365 - 1377
• Main Authors: Brown, Ethan G, Chahine, Lana M, Goldman, Samuel M, Korell, Monica, Mann, Emerald, Kinel, Daniel R, Arnedo, Vanessa, Marek, Kenneth L, Tanner, Caroline M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands IOS Press BV 01.01.2020; IOS Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Pandemics; Parkinson Disease - epidemiology; Parkinson Disease - virology; Parkinson's disease; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Research Report; Surveys and Questionnaires; Telemedicine; Young Adult; COVID-19; social isolation; telemedicine; Parkinson’s disease; health care access
• ISSN: 1877-7171; 1877-718X
• DOI: 10.3233/JPD-202249

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with Parkinson's disease (PD) is poorly understood. To rapidly identify areas of need and improve care in people with PD during the COVID-19 pandemic, we deployed a survey to assess COVID-19 symptoms and the pandemic's effect among those with and without COVID-19. People with and without PD participating in the online study Fox Insight (FI) were invited to complete a survey between April 23 and May 23, 2020. Among people reporting COVID-19 diagnoses, we compared symptoms and outcomes in people with and without PD. Among people not reporting COVID-19, we assessed access to healthcare and services and PD symptoms. 7,209/9,762 active FI users responded (approximately 74% response rate), 5,429 people with PD and 1,452 without PD. COVID-19 diagnoses were reported by 51 people with and 26 without PD. Complications were more frequent in people with longer PD duration. People with PD and COVID-19 experienced new or worsening motor (63%) and nonmotor (75%) symptoms. People with PD not diagnosed with COVID-19 reported disrupted medical care (64%), exercise (21%), and social activities (57%), and worsened motor (43%) and non-motor (52%) symptoms. Disruptions were more common for those living alone, with lower income and non-White race. The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with wide-ranging effects on people with PD, and certain groups may be at particular risk. FI provides a rapid, patient-centered means to assess these effects and identify needs that can be used to improve the health of people with PD.