Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.03.1983, Síða 256
Patients receiving antiparkinsonian drugs varied from 4.6 to 22.6%
(8). These patients had a mean age of 79.9 years and there was an
inverse correlation between the proportion of demented patients and
the length of time since the original diagnosis Parkinsonism. They
suggested that the parkinsonian symptoms were a part of more
generalized rigid-akinetic syndromes and the treatment reguired
further evaluation. As there are no specific laboratory tests
available for Parkinson's diseases the diagnosis is based on
clinical judgment. A therapeutic trial is often needed and the
response to adequate dosage will need to be carefully observed.
Summary
A clinical survey of Parkinson's disease in Geriatric Medicine
covering a population of 65000 people is described.
Over a period of six months, 18 patients (42%) required inpatient
hospital care and 6 patients (15%) died. The mean age of 43 patients
was 77.8 years and the mean duration of disease was 6.1 year.
The morbidity of the group was high as 74% of patients had other
major chronic diseases and 50% were found to be hypertensive
(BP>160/90) on examination. The most common levodopa preparation
in use was Sinemet and the average mean dose 510 mg/day. In spite
of low dosage of levodopa the incidence of side effects was 44%.
A Mental Test score revieled 14 patients (33%) moderately or
severly demented. These patients were both older and more disabled
and they also had a shorter duration of disease, suggesting a
separate disease entity.
The mean average Barthel Index score was 79 for the whole patient
group.
References
1. Brewis, M., Poskanzer, D.C., Rolland, C., Miller, H.: (1962) Acta Neurol.
Scand., 24 (suppl.), 42, 31.
2. Guömundsson, K.R.: (1967) Acta Neurol. Scand., 33 (suppl.), 43.
3. Blessed, G., Tomlinson, B.E., Roth, M.: (1968) British J. Psych., 114, 797.
4. Hodkinson, H.M.: (1972) Age and Ageing, 1, 233.
5. Carrol, D.G.: Ed. (1965) Maryland State Medical Joumal, April 61.
6. Hoehn, M.M.: (1976) Journal of the Am. Geriatrics Soc., 24, 79.
7. Granerus, A.K.: (1980) Proceedings of the Nordic Congr. Gerontol., Norsk
Selskap for aldersforskning, 28.
8. White, N.J., Barnes, T.R.E.: (1981) Age and Ageing, 10, 81.
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