Factors that lead to hospitalisation in patients with Parkinson disease-A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES

Parkinson disease (PD) frequently leads to acute hospitalisation resulting in increased cost to health care systems and reduced quality of life for patients. The objective of this review was to identify causes that lead to acute hospitalisation of patients with PD.

METHODS

A systematic review of English language literature from 1997 to present.

FINDINGS

The incidences of acute general medical or surgical problems that trigger acute hospitalisation in patients with PD are similar to those in the general population. However, falls, acute decompensation of PD symptoms and infections are far more common in PD patients and are responsible for more than 50% of the causes of hospitalisation in this patients' group.

IMPLICATIONS

Preventive strategies to avoid decompensation of PD symptoms and early detection and treatment of infections are needed to reduce hospitalisation in patients with PD.