Subthalamic Nucleus-Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Autonomic Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

Background: To study the effects of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) on autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Methods 57 PD patients, who underwent bilateral STN-DBS from March to December 2018, were retrospectively analyzed, preplanned assessments at baseline and postoperatively at 1, 3 and 6 months also included the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic questionnaire (SCOPA-Aut), the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) III score, levodopa equivalent day dose (LEDD), Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Scale (PDQ-39), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Results The SCOPA-Aut scores improved significantly [14.59% (18.32%), 24.00% (27.05%), 22.16% (27.07%), respectively, all P <0.001] at 1 months, 3 months, 6months of STN-DBS respectively. Analysis of the SCOPA-Aut subitems showed significant improvement only in urine and thermoregulation subitems at 6 months after operation ( P 0.05 ) at 6 months after operation. SCOPA-Aut scores was positively correlated with age ( r =0.428, P =0.001); The improvement rate of SCCOPA-Aut scores was positively correlated with the improvement rate of HAMA and HAMD scores (HAMA: r =0.325, P =0.015; HAMD: r =0.265, P =0.049) at 6 months after operation. Conclusion STN-DBS can improve autonomic dysfunction symptoms of PD patients, urinary and thermoregulatory subitems of autonomic dysfunction were improved in the short term after operation. There was a close relationship between improved autonomic symptoms and improved anxiety and depression 6 months after operation. We should pay more attention to the autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease, detailed preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up, so as to better improve the QOL of patients.