To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) in Latin America

PD significantly impacts the quality of life, with cultural, social, and economic factors influencing the degree of this impact. Despite the growing prevalence of PD in Latin America, there is limited evidence summarizing the region-specific QoL outcomes for these patients.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science were searched up to August 2024 for studies assessing quality of life in Latin American PD patients. No age or language restrictions were imposed. We only consider case control and cohort studies. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and GRADE criteria were used to evaluate the certainty of evidence.

A total of 91 studies, comprising 9,716 patients, met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 63 studies assessed quality of life (QoL) using the PDQ-39 questionnaire. Most patients had Parkinson's disease (PD) in stages 3-4 according to the Hoehn and Yahr scale, with a mean disease duration of 7.57  (±2.1) years. Regarding the PDQ-39, the mean scores were as follows: mobility, 50.33 (±8.69); activities of daily living, 43.14 (±8.38); emotional well-being, 41.10 (±5.72); stigma, 33.15 (±8.95); social support, 23.94 (±20.59); cognition, 34.06 (±7.45); communication, 25.11 (±12.39); and bodily discomfort, 35.98 (±6.27). The quality of evidence was rated as moderate due to heterogeneity in study designs and variations in QoL scales and disease severity across studies.

This review highlights a significant reduction in the quality of life for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients in Latin America. Stigma, social support, and communication are the most affected areas, underscoring the importance of public awareness and education about the disease.