Open AccessThe main impacts of COVID-19 on parkinson’s disease patients
Author(s) -
Mariana Silva Regadas,
Guilherme Albuquerque de Araújo Costa,
Myrela Murad Sampaio
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
DOI - 10.5327/1516-3180.195
Subject(s) - hyposmia , anosmia , medicine , disease , pandemic , parkinson's disease , comorbidity , covid-19 , motor symptoms , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background: COVID-19 patients with chronic diseases and comorbidities are more susceptible to the severe form of the infection. Neurological symptoms are reported by some patients infected by the virus and research seeks the relationship between the virus and neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Objectives: To understand how COVID-19 and its effects affect patients with PD. Methods: Integrative review with search on Google Scholar, Scielo, PubMed and Science Direct platforms through an online scenario, selected articles from the years 2020 and 2021. Results: SARS-CoV-2 frequently undergo mutations, causes damage and inflammation. There are reports of symptoms such as anosmia, ageusia and headache. Anosmia stands out for its relationship with one initial symptom of PD, hyposmia. As the majority of PD patients are elderly and have comorbidities, there is a higher risk of being infected. Some patients with PD infected by the virus report worsening in motor and non-motor symptoms and such worsening can occur due to systemic inflammation, stress and the measures to contain the pandemic. Conclusions: PD is not a risk factor for COVID-19, however patients may experience worsening symptoms due to comorbidities, old age and stress caused by the pandemic. Strategies that reduce stress are options for maintaining the health of patients with PD.