Comparison Of Demographics And Outcome Measures Of Patients > 65yrs Admitted To A Rehabilitation Unit With And Without Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is Ireland’s second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation improves motor and cognitive outcomes. Access remains limited and fragmented. The aim of this analysis was to compare the functional outcomes of patients with and without a PD diagnosis admitted to our rehabilitation unit. Methods Using medical records, data was retrospectively collated on all patients admitted to a 10 bed rehabilitation unit from January 2024-March 2025. Data collated included demographics, source of referral for rehabilitation, length of stay (LOS), clinical frailty scale (CFS) on discharge and discharge destination. The following outcome measures on admission and discharge were collated: Barthel score, Berg Balance, Timed Up and Go (TUG), de Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI) and Lindop Parkinson’s Assessment Scale (LPAS). Excluded from analysis were those who did not have discharge outcome measures, due to being transferred back to acute hospital/unplanned discharge/death (n=22). Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel. Results 160 patients were admitted to the unit over the 15 month period. Of those 10% had PD (n=16), 38% (n=6) were newly diagnosed, 63% (n=10) male and in 38% (n=6) presenting complaint was a fall. Source of referral: General Medicine 81% (n=13), Orthopaedics 13% (n=2), General Surgery 6% (n=1). In the PD cohort (n=16), from admission to discharge the following were the changes in outcome measures: Barthel (48/100 to 67/100), Berg (29/56 to 42/56), TUG (50.6s to 32.1s), DEMMI (41/100 to 54/100) and Lindop (14/30 to 21/30). In the non-PD cohort (n=122), Barthel (50/100 to 70/100), Berg (29/56 to 43/56), TUG (40.4s to 27.9s), DEMMI (43/100 to 54/100). On discharge, PD versus Non-PD cohort: CFS 6 versus 5.5, LOS 36 versus 34 days, discharge home 95% versus 90%. Conclusion PD patients showed functional improvement during rehabilitation, although starting from a lower baseline and with slightly longer stays than the general cohort.