Discrepancies between patient and caregiver reports of daily living abilities in Parkinson's disease.

BackgroundPatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) frequently experience a progressive decline in their activities of daily living (ADL), necessitating caregiver support. Discrepancies between patient and caregiver ADL ratings are common and may hinder optimal care.ObjectivesTo quantify patient-caregiver differences in ADL ratings and identify the clinical factors associated with these discrepancies.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study involving 217 patients with PD and their primary caregivers. Both groups independently completed the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ). Discrepancy (dADLQ) was defined by subtracting the caregiver-rated score from the patient-rated score; its absolute value (δADLQ) reflected the degree of disagreement. Associations with clinical variables, including motor and non-motor symptoms (cognition, mood, sleep, and autonomic function), were examined using multivariate regression.ResultsThe mean ADLQ scores were similar between patients and caregivers, but individual differences varied. The no-discrepancy group was characterized by younger age, shorter disease duration, and lower caregiver burden than those with any discrepancy. Larger δADLQ was associated with more severe motor and non-motor symptoms, as well as increased caregiver burden and depression. The dADLQ scores showed directional associations with patient mood and caregiver burden. Multivariate analysis revealed that δADLQ was independently predicted by greater motor symptom severity and gastrointestinal dysfunction.ConclusionsDiscrepancies in ADL ratings were common in patients with PD and increased with disease severity. They were associated with motor and non-motor symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal dysfunction and mood factors. These findings underscore the importance of integrating both perspectives in clinical assessment, particularly for advanced diseases.