Associations between quality of life in communication and sociodemographic and clinical aspects of Parkinson's disease.

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between quality of life in communication among people with Parkinson's disease and clinical and sociodemographic variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that analyzed sociodemographic variables - such as sex, age, education and ethnicity - and clinical variables, including age at onset of symptoms, time since PD diagnosis, initial symptom, equivalent daily dose of levodopa, motor impairment, stage of the disease, cognition, mood disorders and quality of life. The correlation test and multiple linear regression model were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 34 individuals, with a mean age of 62.42 years (±12.21), mostly male (61.76%) and with a mean score of 20.09 (±17.78) in the communication item of the PDQ-39. A significant correlation was observed between communication and disease duration, depression and anxiety levels, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognition, bodily discomfort, disease stage (Hoehn & Yahr), as well as motor and non-motor aspects and the total score of the PDQ-39 scale. This indicates that communication is affected by many areas of life and by the progression of the disease. When analyzed together (multiple linear regression model), activities of daily living and non-motor aspects (such as emotional and cognitive problems) are the main predictors of quality of life related to communication. CONCLUSION: Communication in individuals with PD is influenced by several factors related to the progression of the disease. Among them, activities of daily living and non-motor aspects stand out as the main influences on quality of life in communication.