부산대학교 도서관

This study examined the quality of life in 31 elderly, cognitive well-functioning non-depressed patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) attending an outpatient geriatric unit in Sweden. Quality of life was assessed by the Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39).The participants had a mean age of 77 years and were in stage 1-3 of Parkinson's disease as classified by Hoehn and Yahr (1967). The results showed a significant association between disease severity and quality of life. The most common problems concerned mobility, also associated with increased age. Long duration of PD was associated with decreased mobility communication and activities of daily living.This study shows that, even before reaching an advanced stage, PD affects quality of life, with increasing problems as the disease progresses. Health-care professionals need to focus on the patients' perception of quality of life and develop strategies for interventions that might improve daily life for the patients.