TABLE 1.
Gender differences in quality of life in Parkinson's disease in the literature
| Characteristic of the study sample | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study | Region | Sample size (M:F) | Age, mean (SD) (M:F) | Disease duration (years) | H&Y/UPDRSIII | HRQOL instrument | Gender differences |
| (Abraham et al., 2019) | The United States | 1463 (914:549) | 64.5 ± 10.4 vs 65.7 ± 11.0 | n.a. | 2.3 ± 0.8 vs. 2.4 ± 1.0/26.4 ± 12.4 vs. 26.3 ± 13.8 | SF‐12 | SF‐12 MH and SF‐12 PH: NS; females: less social support, more psychological distress, worse self‐reported disability (p < .05) |
| (Kim et al., 2019) | Korea | 100 (48:52) | 57.3 ± 8.5 vs 60.2 ± 6.7 | 10.8 ± 4.0 vs. 12.0 ± 4.7 | n.a./19.6 ± 11.9 vs. 19.4 ± 11.3 | SF‐36 | SF‐36 score: NS; Physical‐component summary and Mental‐component summary: NS |
| (Balash et al., 2019) | Israel | 122 | 68.3 ± 10.1 vs. 67.6 ± 7.7 | Median: 8, IQR: 3–12 vs. median: 7.5, IQR: 3–12 | Median: III, IQR: II–III/n.a. | PDQ‐39 | The PDQ‐39 SI scores were higher in female patients than in male patients. Mobility as well as emotional items and pain had a greater effect on women. Cognition and communication contribute to worsened QoL more in men than in women |
| (Yoon et al., 2017) | Korea | 89 (47:42) | 68.18 ± 8.14 vs. 68.90 ± 7.71 | 2.6 ± 2.8 vs. 3.2 ± 3.6 | 2.1 ± 0.9 vs. 2.1 ± 0.9/24.2 ± 13.2 vs. 22.9 ± 12.9 | PDQ‐39 | The PDQ‐39 SI scores were higher in female patients than in male patients (p < .05) |
| (Dahodwala et al., 2016) | Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, the United States | 4679 (2938:1741) | 65.5 ± 9.7 vs. 66.9 ± 9.7 | 8.7 ± 6.0 vs. 8.9 ± 6.6 | Range: 1–5/n.a. | PDQ‐39 | The PDQ‐39 SI scores were higher in female patients than in male patients. Men reported lower QoL in mobility, emotional, and pain |
| Augustine et al., 2015 | The United States and Canada | 1738 (617:1121) | n.a. | 3.2 ± 2.0 vs. 3.3 ± 2.3 | n.a./18.2 ± 8.2 vs. 17.0 ± 8.6 | PDQ‐39 | The PDQ‐39 SI scores were higher in female patients than in male patients |
| (Lubomski et al., 2014) | Australia | 210 (129:81) | 70.1 ± 10.4 vs. 67.6 ± 11.3 | 7.4 ± 5.7 vs. 7.0 ± 5.8 | n.a./27 ± 13 vs. 23 ± 13 | PDQ‐39 | The PDQ‐39 SI scores: NS. The PDQ‐39 showed men reported lower QoL in activities of daily living, cognition, and communication subscales (p < .05) |
| (Hristova et al., 2009) | Bulgaria | 866 (412:454) | 74.0 ± 0.3 vs. 73.5 ± 0.4 | 6.7 ± 0.9 | Range: 1−5/n.a. | PDQ‐39 | Significantly poorer QoL of women than men. Female PD patients: significantly worse assessment of QoL in aspects mobility, emotional well‐being, social support, and bodily discomfort |
| (Carod‐Artal et al., 2007) | Brazilian | 144 (77:67) | 60 ± 11.4 vs. 64 ± 10.6 | 6.6 ± 3.8 | Median: 2, IQR: 1.5−2.5/27.9 ± 14.5 | PDQ‐39 | The PDQ‐39 SI scores: NS; female: worse mobility, emotional well‐being, cognition, and bodily discomfort |
| (Moore et al., 2005) | Israel | 124 (69:55) | 65.8 ± 10.2 | 8.5 ± 5.8 | 2.7 ± 0.9/48.4 ± 17.2 | PDQ‐39 | Significantly better QoL of PD women than PD men |
| (Behari et al., 2005) | India | 278 (218:60) | 58.3 ± 10.5 vs. 53.1 ± 10.8 | 4.7 ± 3.8 vs. 4.4 ± 4.4 | n.a./n.a. | PDQL | Women scored significantly lower on parkinsonian symptoms, systemic symptoms, social symptoms, emotional symptoms, and total score |
| (Kuopio et al., 2000) | Finland | 228 (104:124) | 71.3 ± 9.5 vs. 73.4 ± 8.4 | 8.2 ± 5.1 vs. 9.5 ± 5.7 | 2.6 ± 0.9/n.a. | SF‐36 | Women scored significantly lower on five dimensions (physical functioning, role limitations—physical, social functioning, bodily pain, and mental health) |
Abbreviations: n.a., not available; NS, not significant; M:F, MALE:FEMALE; PDQ‐39 SI, PDQ‐39‐Summary Index; PDQ‐39, PD Questionnaire‐39; PDQL, Parkinson disease quality of life questionnaire; SF‐12, 12‐Item Short Form Health Survey; SF‐36, 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey.