Objective:

The aim of this study was to (1) demonstrate improved quality of life outcomes in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and low socioeconomic status (SES) following deep brain stimulation (DBS) implantation and (2) identify demographic factors that can support their success.

Background:

Studies show PD patients of low SES are sent for DBS evaluation and undergo implant at significantly lower rates, but quality of life outcomes among such patients who undergo the procedure have not been well studied. 

Design/Methods:

Twenty patients with PD were recruited from a large urban academic center in a low SES area. Prior to undergoing DBS, patients completed a two-part 26 question survey about their quality of life. They then took the same survey several months after implant.  The sums of their responses in Part I and II were compared to their initial assessments using paired samples t-test.  Results were then analyzed with ANOVA based on patients’ primary language, marital status, and initial baseline status.

Results:

The sums of the scores for the two-part surveys were significantly improved after DBS implant. (Part I t=2.185, p=0.044; Part II t=3.489, p=0.0033). Patients who were married had significantly higher outcomes during part II (F(1,28) = 11.8, p=0.0019), but there were no significant differences between patients of different primary language or of different baseline status.

Conclusions:

This study supports the usage of DBS to improve quality of life in PD patients with low SES. Married patients also had better outcomes, implying good social support plays a fundamental component in these patients’ success after implant.