Evaluation of Systemic Disorders in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Referred to the Emergency Department

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of systemic disorders among patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) presenting to the emergency department (ED), with a focus on major comorbidities and their impact on patient outcomes. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting(s): The study was conducted in the ED of Imam Reza Medical Center, a tertiary care hospital in Tabriz, Iran. Participants: A total of 110 PD patients who presented to the ED between March 2017 and March 2022 were included. The inclusion criteria included a confirmed diagnosis of PD and documented systemic complications. Patients with incomplete medical records were excluded. Outcome Measures: The primary outcomes were the prevalence of systemic disorders (neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and urinary complications) and treatment adherence. Results: The mean age of participants was 72.42±11.14 years. The most common systemic complications included sleep disturbances (85.5%), cardiovascular disorders (78.2%), gastrointestinal issues (67.3%), and urinary dysfunction (34.5%). Furthermore, 45.5% of patients exhibited non-adherence to treatment. Statistical significance was established for key findings, with 95% confidence intervals reported. Conclusion: Systemic complications are highly prevalent in PD patients presenting to the ED, necessitating early recognition and management to improve patient outcomes. Further prospective studies are needed to assess long-term effects and optimize treatment strategies.