Assessment of Duodopa® effects on quality of life of patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers

The gold standard of treatment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is levodopa/carbidopa whose long-term use induces motor and non-motor fluctuations and dyskinesias. Continuous infusion of intrajejunal levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (Duodopa®) reduces motor and non-motor symptoms and dyskinesias, and improves the quality of life of patients. The aim of this open observational prospective study was to evaluate the impact of Duodopa® on conditions of PD patients and caregivers, and their quality of life. We enrolled 12 patients with advanced PD and their caregivers. The PD patients were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months after Duodopa® treatment initiation using Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-Part III and IV (UPDRS-III and IV), Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UdysRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39). The caregivers were assessed, at the same time as the patients, using BDI-II, HAM-A, Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire. Six months after Duodopa® therapy, the scores of UPDRS-III and IV, UdysRS, BDI-II, HAM-A and PDQ-39 were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). After Duodopa® therapy, in caregiver group the scores of BDI-II, HAM-A and CBI were significantly decreased and the scores of SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire were significantly increased (p < 0.01). A reduction of anxiety after therapy correlated with mental status domains of SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire (r = 0.56). Overall, Duodopa® is effective even in the short time to improve the clinical conditions of PD patients and caregivers and their quality of life.