Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Quality of life in Serbian patients with Parkinson’s disease

  • Published:
Quality of Life Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) is a well-validated British scale for the assessment of health-related quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Objective

To validate the Serbian version of the PDQ-39, while also providing additional information on the characteristics of this instrument.

Patient and methods

A total of 102 Serbian PD patients were asked to complete the PDQ-39, a disease-specific QoL questionnaire, as well as the generic, health status questionnaire (SF-36-version 1), and the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory. Neurological examination included the Hoehn and Yahr staging, Unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale (UPDRS)-part III, Schwab and England scale, and the Mini-Mental State Examination.

Results

Internal consistency analysis yielded a Cronbach’s α of 0.83. Cronbach’s α was above 0.70 for seven out of eight subscales (range from 0.73 to 0.91). A hierarchical structure of the PDQ-39 was revealed, with one global higher-order factor and two lower-order factors. The strongest predictor of the QoL in PD was the presence of depression, while motor disability (UPDRS-part III score) additionally contributed to poor QoL. Cognitive impairment has not been correlated with poor QoL. Also, QoL measures were not different between young- (≤50 years) and older-onset PD patients.

Conclusions

The PDQ-39 is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of QoL in Serbian PD patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Peto, V., Jenkinson, C., Fitzpatrick, R., & Greenhall, R. (1995). The development and validation of a short measure of functioning and well-being for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Quality of Life Research, 4, 241–248.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Martinez-Martin, P. (1998). An introduction to the concept of “quality of life in Parkinson’s disease”. Journal of Neurology, 245(Suppl 1), S2–S6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kuopio, A. M., Marttila, R. J., Helenius, H., Toivonen, M., & Rinne, U. K. (2000). The quality of life in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, 15, 216–223.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Schrage, A., Selai, C., Jahanshahi, M., & Quinn, N. P. (2000). The EQ-5D—a generic quality of life measure—is a useful instrument to measure quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 69, 67–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Diamond, A., & Jankovic, J. (2005). The effect of deep brain stimulation on quality of life in movement disorders. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 76, 1188–1193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chaudhuri, K. R., Yates, L., & Martinez-Martin, P. (2005). The non-motor symptom complex of Parkinson’s disease: A comprehensive assessment is essential. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, 5, 275–283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Visser, M., van Rooden, S. M., Verbaan, D., Marinus, J., Stiggelbout, A. M., & van Hilten, J. J. (2008). A comprehensive model of health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, 255(10), 1580–1587.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Karlsen, K. H., Larsen, J. P., Tandberg, E., & Maeland, J. G. (1999). Influence of clinical and demographic variables on quality of life in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 66, 431–435.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Schrage, A. (2006). Quality of life and depression in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 248, 151–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Martinez-Martin, P., & Payo, F. B. (1998). Quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: Validation study of the PDQ-39 Spanish version. Journal of Neurology, 245(Suppl 1), S34–S38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bushnell, D. M., & Martin, M. L. (1999). Quality of life and Parkinson’s disease: Translation and validation of the US Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Quality of Life Research, 8, 345–350.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Katsarou, Z., Bostantjopulou, S., Peto, V., Alevriadou, A., & Kiosseoglou, G. (2001). Quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: Greek translation and validation of the Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Quality of Life Research, 10, 159–163.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ma, H. I., Hwang, W. J., & Chen-Sea, M. J. (2005). Reliability and validity testing of a Chinese-translated version of the 39-item Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Quality of Life Research, 14, 565–569.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Klepac, N., Pikija, S., Kraljić, T., et al. (2007). Association of rural life setting and poorer quality of life in Parkinson’s disease patients: A cross-sectional study in Croatia. European Journal of Neurology, 14, 194–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Krikmann, U., Taba, P., Lai, T., & Asserl, T. (2008). Validation of an Estonian version of the Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 6, 23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hughes, A. J., Daniel, S. E., Kliford, I., & Lees, A. J. (1992). Accuracy of clinical diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: A clinicopathological study of 100 cases. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 55, 181–184.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., & McHugh, P. R. (1975). Mini-mental state. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12(3), 189–198.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fahn, S., & Elton, R. L. (1987). Unified Parkinson′s disease rating scale. In S. Fahn, C. D. Marsden, M. Goldstein, & D. B. Calne (Eds.), Recent developments in Parkinson′s disease II (pp. 153–163). New York: MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hoehn, M., & Yahr, M. (1967). Parkinsonism: Onset, progression and mortality. Neurology, 17, 427–442.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Schwab, R. S., & England, A. C. (1969). Projection technique for evaluating surgery in Parkinson’s disease. In F. J. Gillingham & I. M. L. Donaldson (Eds.), Third symposium on Parkinson’s disease (pp. 152–157). Edinburgh: Livingstone.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, L., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Jenkinson, C., Fitzpatrick, R., & Peto, V. (1998). The Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire. Use manual for the PDQ-39, PDQ-8 and PDQ Summary Index. Oxford: Health Services Research Unit.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Jenkinson, C., Wright, L., & Coulter, A. (1993). Quality of life measurement in health care: A review of measures and population norms for the UK SF-36. Oxford: Health Services Research Unit.

    Google Scholar 

  24. STATISTICA (data analysis software system), version 7. (2006). Tulsa: StatSoft, Inc.

  25. Lance, C. E., & Vandenberg, R. J. (2009). Statistical and methodological myths and urban legends: Received doctrine, verity, and fable in organizational and social research. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Schmid, J., & Leiman, J. (1957). The development of hierarchical factor solutions. Psychometrica, 22, 53–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Hagell, P., Törnqvist, A. L., & Hobart, J. (2008). Testing the SF-36 in Parkinson’s disease: Implications for reporting rating scale data. Journal of Neurology, 255, 246–254.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Auquier, P., Sapin, C., Ziegler, M., et al. (2002). Validation en langue française d’un questionnaire de qualité de vie dans la maladie de Parkinson: Le Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-PDQ-39. Revue Neurologique, 158(4), 1–50.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Hagell, P., & Nygren, C. (2007). The 39-item Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) revisited: Implications for evidence-based medicine. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 78, 1191–1198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Flanagan, J. C. (1982). Measurement of the quality of life: Current state of the art. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 63, 56–59.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Burckhardt, C. S., Anderson, K. L., Archenholtz, B., & Hägg, O. (2003). The Flanagan quality of life scale: Evidence of construct validity. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 1, 59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Global Parkinson’s Disease Survey (GPDS) Steering Committee. (2001). Factors impacting on quality of life in Parkinson’s disease: Results from an international survey. Movement Disorders, 17, 60–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Marinus, J., Visser, M., Jenkinson, C., & Stiggelbout, A. M. (2008). Evaluation of the Dutch version of the Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire-39. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 4, 24–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., & Akert, R. M. (2007). Social psychology (6th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Forsaa, E. B., Larsen, J. P., Wentzel-Larsen, T., et al. (2008). Predictors and course of health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease. Movement Disorders, 23, 1420–1427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Muslimovic, D., Post, B., Speelman, J. D., Schmand, B., & de Haan, R. J. (2008). Determinants of disability and quality of life in mild to moderate Parkinson disease. Neurology, 70(23), 2241–2247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Schrag, A., Hovris, A., Morley, D., et al. (2003). Young- versus older-onset Parkinson’s disease: Impact of disease and psychosocial consequences. Movement Disorders, 18, 1250–1256.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Serbia (grant no. 145057).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Ljubomir Žiropađa

  2. Institute of Neurology CCS, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Ul. Dr Subotića 6, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Elka Stefanova & Vladimir S. Kostić

  3. Institute of Psychiatry CCS, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Aleksandra Potrebić

Authors
  1. Ljubomir Žiropađa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elka Stefanova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aleksandra Potrebić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vladimir S. Kostić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elka Stefanova.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Žiropađa, L., Stefanova, E., Potrebić, A. et al. Quality of life in Serbian patients with Parkinson’s disease. Qual Life Res 18, 833–839 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9500-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-009-9500-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation