Physical Activity Associated With Reduced Mortality Rate for Patients With Parkinson Disease

Physical activity is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), according to new findings published in JAMA Neurology.

“The protective effects of physical activity against Parkinson disease (PD) development have been suggested; however, the association of physical activity with mortality in PD has rarely been investigated,” wrote Seo Yeon Yoon, MD, PhD, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea, and co-researchers.

Researchers aimed to determine the association between physical activity and mortality rates in individuals with PD and how the amount of physical activity impacted mortality. The main outcome was all-cause mortality.

A total of 10,699 patients with PD aged 40 or older from the Korean National Health Insurance System were analyzed in this population-based cohort study. Participants were included between January 2010 and December 2013 with follow up until December 31, 2017.

All patients included underwent health checkups 2 years before and after diagnosis with PD. Researchers selected newly diagnosed individuals using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision code G20 and code V124.

Participants self-reported their physical activity levels.  Data analysis occurred between September 2020 and March 2021.

A total of 1823 participant deaths occurred in the 8-year follow up period. Mortality rate was overall lower for patients who reported being more physically active at all intensity levels vs inactive. Additionally, maintenance of physical activity was also associated with the mortality rate; the greatest reduction in mortality rate occurred in patients who reported being physically active at any intensity levels before and after diagnosis. However, patients who began being physically active after diagnosis had a lower mortality rate when compared to patients who were not physically active.

“In this analysis, physical activity and all-cause mortality had a dose-response association in individuals with PD; although reverse causality might exist, modifications to increase and maintain physical activity may be beneficial for reducing mortality in PD,” Dr Yoon et al concluded. 

Yoon SY, Suh JH, Yang SN, Han K, Kim YW. Association of Physical Activity, Including Amount and Maintenance, With All-Cause Mortality in Parkinson Disease. JAMA Neurol. Published online November 01, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.3926