Meaningful addition
Commenting on the findings, Kyle Mitchell, MD, movement disorders neurologist, Duke University, Durham, N.C., said he found the study to be a meaningful addition in light of the fact that data on the challenges that patients with Parkinson’s disease may face after having COVID-19 are limited.
“What I liked about this study was there’s data from multiple countries, what looks like a diverse population of study participants, and really just addressing a question that we get asked a lot in clinic and we see a fair amount, but we don’t really know a lot about: how people with Parkinson’s disease will do during and post COVID-19 infection,” said Dr. Mitchell, who was not involved with the research.
He said the worsening of motor symptoms and the need for increased dopaminergic medication brought some questions to mind.
“Is this increase in medications permanent, or is it temporary until post-COVID resolves? Or is it truly something where they stay on a higher dose?” he asked.
Dr. Mitchell said he does not believe the worsening of symptoms is specific to COVID-19 and that he sees individuals with Parkinson’s disease who experience setbacks “from any number of infections.” These include urinary tract infections and influenza, which are associated with worsening mobility, rigidity, tremor, fatigue, and cognition.
“People with Parkinson’s disease seem to get hit harder by infections in general,” he said.
The study had no outside funding. Dr. Leta and Dr. Mitchell have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.