To describe the profile of non-motor symptoms and their impact on QoL, as well as identifying the predictors of symptom severity among patients with PD attending the neurology clinic at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. The non-motor symptoms (NMS) in PD are as crucial to the morbidity of the condition as the motor symptoms. Previous studies on NMS have shown an impact on quality of life (QoL). There is, however, a dearth of studies examining PD NMS in Nigeria and the impact on QoL which informed the rationale for this study.

An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 105 subjects with PD (newly and previously diagnosed) and 105 age and sex-matched controls. Subjects and controls were assessed for various non-motor symptoms using an interviewer-administered standardized non-motor symptom assessment scale. Other relevant biodata, smoking, alcohol use, comorbidities and PD treatment history were also assessed to analyze for predictors of NMS severity. A validated PD-specific QoL assessment tool, the PDQ-39 was used to assess for PD-related QoL. Analyses for correlation and difference were performed to determine predictors of NMS severity and its impact on QoL.

The total NMS score was significantly higher in subjects compared to controls (median (IQR) were 42 (13 – 72) vs. 20 (14 – 29), p <0.001). There was a significantly higher score in the advanced H and Y stages (Kruskal-Wallis H value 56.320, p<0.001). The duration of PD had a weakly positive correlation with the NMS scores (r_s=0.207, p=0.034). The total NMS score had a strong correlation with the PDQSI (r_s=0.851, p<0.001).

PD is associated with significant NMS and worsens with H&Y stage, and duration of illness. These NMS have a significant impact on the QoL, necessitating the need for detailed evaluation and management.