Influence of care partner presence on outcomes of people with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review

Abstract

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) often depend on informal care partners (CPs), but the effect of CP presence on outcomes for people with PD remains unexamined. A systematic review was conducted for English-language articles reporting quantitative outcomes for people with PD and noting CP presence or absence. Of 153 included articles, only five recorded data about those lacking a CP. Findings were mixed when comparing motor and nonmotor outcomes by CP presence. Few articles distinguish between people with PD with access to CPs and those without, which may mask the unique needs of those who lack informal care.