Vascular risk factors in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Motor and cognitive aspects

Abstract

Background: Vascular risk factors (VRFs) are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Studies suggest the association of VRFs with motor severity and cognitive decline in PD. Material and methods: In 111 consecutive PD patients (mean age 64.87 ± 7.69 y.o.; disease duration 50.21 ± 38.61 mo.; 48 women (43.2%), 63 men (56.8%)) VRFs were assessed by QRISK3scale. Results: VRFs were present in 106 (95.5%) patients: HBP (High Blood Pressure) – 74 pts. (66.7%), dyslipidemia – 36 pts. (32.4%), DM (Diabetes Mellitus) – 20 pts. (18.0%), previous stroke – 14 pts. (12.6%), atrial fibrillation – 12 pts. (10.8%), smoking – 32 pts. (28.8%). Mean VRFs number per patient was 2.62 ± 1.39. PD onset age (60.44 ± 8.11 vs 60.80 ± 12.79) and disease duration (50.54 ± 38.74 vs 43.20 ± 39.44) were similar in groups. PD+VRFs patients had higher UPDRSon (36.11 ± 12.19 vs 20.00 ± 6.98, p = 0.011) and akinesia-rigidity scores (0.75 ± 0.61 vs 0.38 ± 0.13, p = 0.001). PDQ39(Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire) (54.41 ± 27.67 vs 41.25 ± 20.16, p > 0.05) were higher, and MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) scores (21.64 ± 4.32 vs 22.60 ± 3.29) lower. Significant differences were found for MoCA naming (2.79 ± 0.41 vs 3.00 ± 0.00, p = 0.001), MoCA abstracting (1.46 ± 0.67 vs 2.0 ± 0.01, p = 0.001) and MoCA orientation (5.58 ± 0.99 vs 6.00 ± 0.01, p = 0.004) subscores. Conclusions: The frequency of vascular risk factors was high in our PD patients, the most common being HBP. Their presence was associated with motor severity and changes in specific cognitive subscores.