Relationship of Autonomic Dysfunction with The Severity of Parkinsonism Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Autonomic dysfunction is one of the non-motor symptoms of parkinsonism but has not been of clinical concern. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of autonomic dysfunction with the severity of parkinsonism patients.
Method: A total of 121 outpatient subjects in the Neurology Clinic of Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou Hospital Manado, sample selection is done consecutively in analytic cross-sectional studies. The patient characteristics, symptoms and examination of autonomic dysfunction are recorded. Data were analyzed using chi square, Mann Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and logistic regression. 
Result: Almost all variables measuring autonomic function tended to show a higher degree of severity of parkinsonism (p < 0.001). Each increase in the SCOPA-AUT INA score tends to increase the odds of the Hoehn and Yahr stage (OR > 1) also in the greater orthostatic blood pressure difference test, older age, longer illness, longer treatment period, and use of a combination of antiparkinson drugs.
Conclusion: Autonomic dysfunction is significantly related to the severity of parkinsonism.