Comorbidity, Cognitive Impairment, and Disease Duration Associated with Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease impairs motor and nonmotor functions, potentially reducing health-related quality of life. Evidence regarding the associations of comorbid conditions, cognitive impairment, and disease duration with quality of life in regional healthcare settings remains limited. Objective: To examine the associations of comorbid conditions, cognitive impairment, and disease duration with health-related quality of life among patients with Parkinson’s disease at Muhammadiyah Hospital Palembang. Methods: An analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design included 34 patients recruited through consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Indonesian version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-Ina), and the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39). Bivariate associations were assessed using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Results: Most participants had comorbid conditions (73.5%), cognitive impairment (73.5%), and disease duration under five years (73.5%). Cognitive impairment was significantly associated with poorer quality of life (p < 0.001; PR = 7.56), whereas disease duration was not significantly associated with quality of life (p = 0.254). The association between comorbid conditions and quality of life requires verification against the statistical results in Table 7. Conclusion: Cognitive impairment was significantly associated with poorer quality of life among patients with Parkinson’s disease, whereas disease duration showed no significant association. These findings support systematic cognitive monitoring as part of individualized Parkinson’s disease management.