Abstract

Background: Pain is a prevalent non-motor symptom in individuals with Parkinson’s disease, particularly in the older population. Despite its substantial impact on quality of life, pain remains under-assessed in clinical practice. Emerging evidence suggests that pain in Parkinson’s disease may be associated with various geriatric syndromes, including depression, functional impairment, and sleep disturbances..

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 126 patients aged 60 years and above diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the National Geriatric Hospital from January to May 2024. Pain was assessed using the King’s Parkinson’s Disease Pain Scale. Geriatric syndromes evaluated included functional status, nutritional status, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, REM sleep behavior disorder

Results: Pain was reported in 65.1% of participants. A statistically significant association was observed between depressive symptoms and pain (p = 0.04), with a higher prevalence of pain among those with moderate to severe depression. Participants experiencing pain also demonstrated poorer sleep quality (p < 0.01) and higher scores on the REM sleep behavior disorder scale (p = 0.04). No significant associations were found between pain and nutritional status, functional impairment.

Conclusion: Pain is a highly prevalent symptom among older adults with Parkinson’s disease and is significantly associated with depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive geriatric assessment and the integrated management of mental health and sleep-related issues in improving care outcomes for individuals with Parkinson’s disease in Vietnam.