Factors associated with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms for Patients with Parkinson's Disease

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The study was done to identify lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to evaluate the factors affecting LUTS for the people with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: The research design was a cross-sectional study with interviews using a structured questionnaire. The participants were 72 patients with Parkinson's disease who were seen in the Neurology clinic of a university hospital from September to November 2005. RESULTS: Mean score of LUTS for the participants was 10.11. In each symptom score of LUTS (range 0-5), weak stream was the highest 2.06, followed by nocturia 1.71, and urgency 1.61. The severity of LUTS was moderate to severe group for 51%. LUTS were significantly different by regular exercise. Positive correlations were observed between Hoehn and Yahr stage (stage of disease severity) and frequency and between Hoehn and Yahr stage and urgency (r=.280, p=.018; r=.328, p=.005). LUTS were significantly predicted by regular exercise (p=.001) which explained 15.0% of the variance in LUTS. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise was found to be a very important factor associated with LUTS for patients with Parkinson's disease.