Effect of virtual reality on cognitive function and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) on cognitive function and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease. MethodsA systematic search of CBM, CNKI, Wanfang data, VIP, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and PubMed was carried out to identify randomized control trials (RCT) about the effect of VR technology on patients with Parkinson's disease from inception to February 29th, 2024. The control group received routine cognitive training, balance training or physical therapy, and the experimental group received VR technology. The quality of articles was evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration's 5.1.0 RCT risk assessment tool for bias. The meta-analysis was performed using Revman5.4. GRADE was used to evaluate the evidence quality of outcome indicators. ResultsA total of 13 literatures involving 426 patients were included. Allocation concealment and blind methods were not described in most literatures, and selective reporting of research results or other biases was unclear. VR technology could improve the Motreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score (MD = 1.11, 95%CI 0.31 to 1.90, P = 0.006), Trail Making Test (TMT)-A score (MD = -6.25, 95%CI -11.71 to -0.78, P = 0.030) and depression scale score (SMD = -0.56, 95%CI -0.95 to 0.18, P = 0.004) of patients with Parkinson's disease; however, it did not improve TMT-B score (MD = -6.01, 95%CI -28.16 to 16.14, P = 0.590), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)-Part II score (MD = -2.11, 95%CI -4.97 to 0.75, P = 0.150) and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) score (MD = -0.92, 95%CI -4.03 to 2.19, P = 0.560). For quality of evidence, MoCA score, UPDRS-Part II score and PDQ-39 score were low, and depression score and TMT score were moderate. ConclusionVR technology can improve the cognitive function and depression of patients with Parkinson's disease; however, no significant improvement is found in activities of daily living and quality of life.