Higher Rates of COVID-19 Infection and Death for People With Parkinson Disease
A paper accepted for publication in Movement Disorders suggests that people with Parkinson disease (PD) with longer disease duration (mean 12.7 years) may be more susceptible to infection with the SARS-CoV2 virus (COVID-19), according to an article in Practical Neurology. Individuals with longer duration of PD who become infected may also have a higher mortality rate (40% in a 10-case series). Individuals on advanced therapies such as infusions of levodopa or deep brain stimulation seemed to be at particularly high risk.
In this case series of 2 individuals in Italy and 8 in the United Kingdom with PD and COVID-19 (mean age 78.3 years), 5 needed increased doses of levodopa during treatment for COVID-19.
Increased risk of COVID-19 for people with PD may be related to respiratory muscle rigidity as well as impairment of cough reflex alongside pre-existing dyspnea. The indirect effects of social distancing on any individual with chronic illness may also play a role.