COVID-19 in Parkinson's Disease Patients Living in Lombardy, Italy

Mov Disord. 2020 Jul;35(7):1089-1093. doi: 10.1002/mds.28176. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Abstract

Background: It is unknown whether patients with PD are at greater risk of COVID-19, what their risk factors are, and whether their clinical manifestations differ from the general population.

Objectives: The study aimed to address all these issues.

Methods: In a case-controlled survey, we interviewed 1,486 PD patients attending a single tertiary center in Lombardy, Italy and 1,207 family members (controls).

Results: One hundred five (7.1%) and 92 controls (7.6%) were identified as COVID-19 cases. COVID-19 patients were younger, more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, to be obese, and vitamin D nonsupplemented than unaffected patients. Six patients (5.7%) and 7 family members (7.6%) died from COVID-19. Patients were less likely to report shortness of breath and require hospitalization.

Conclusions: In an unselected large cohort of nonadvanced PD patients, COVID-19 risk and mortality did not differ from the general population, but symptoms appeared to be milder. The possible protective role of vitamin D supplementation warrants future studies. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / mortality
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Dyspnea / epidemiology
  • Dyspnea / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology*
  • Pandemics
  • Parkinson Disease / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / mortality
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology
  • Protective Factors
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Tertiary Care Centers
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D