Comparison of early and late groups with full data from first and second assessments (n = 94)
| Baseline | 24 weeks | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early | Late | Early | Late | Significance* | ||
| Unless otherwise stated, values are mean (SD). *Statistical significance of difference in change scores after use of general linear model analysis of variance. aTreated group had deterioration in emotional distress and controls improved at 24 weeks relative to baseline. bTreated group had deterioration in mental health and controls improved at 24 weeks relative to baseline. cTreated group had deterioration in general health and controls improved at 24 weeks relative to baseline. dTreated group significantly faster, p = 0.044 on direct comparison; p = 0.093 relative to baseline. eCarers of treated group had increased strain and controls less strain at 24 weeks relative to baseline. HAD, hospital anxiety and depression scale; PD, Parkinson’s disease; PDQ-39, Parkinson’s disease questionnaire; SF-36, short form 36; VAS, UPDRS, unified Parkinson’s disease rating scale; visual analogue scale. | ||||||
| Patients | ||||||
| n | 53 | 41 | 53 | 41 | ||
| Male:female (n) | 30:23 | 26:15 | ||||
| Age (years) | 71.3 (8.6) | 70.4 (7.6) | ||||
| PD disability questionnaire: 25 (good) to 125 | 48.9 (14.4) | 50.3 (18.0) | 53.4 (17.4) | 55.3 (19.5) | 0.558 | |
| PDQ-39: 0 (good) to 100 | 26.1 (11.3) | 27.6 (12.2) | 26.7 (13.7) | 26.2 (13.2) | 0.439 | |
| SF-36 physical component summary: 0 (bad) to 100 | 29.8 (10.8) | 29.7 (9.7) | 28.8 (10.9) | 28.1 (11.8) | 0.602 | |
| SF-36 mental component summary: 0 (bad) to 100 | 50.6 (8.8) | 48.0 (10.4) | 49.8 (10.7) | 51.2 (9.0) | 0.037a | |
| SF-36 mental health subscale: 0 (bad) to 100 | 71.1 (15.2) | 67.6 (19.2) | 67.9 (18.3) | 72.5 (13.5) | 0.019b | |
| SF-36 general health subscale: 0 (bad) to 100 | 50.4 (21.5) | 43.8 (17.4) | 42.7 (18.7) | 48.0 (17.6) | 0.002c | |
| Stand-walk-sit time (s) | 20.1 (8.7), n=49 | 21.5 (8.0), n=39 | 19.4 (6.9), n=49 | 23.2 (10.3)d, n=39 | 0.093 | |
| Nine hole peg test (s) | 23.9 (31.2), n=51 | 20.2 (7.4), n=41 | 20.4 (14.8), n=52 | 20.0 (8.1), n=40 | 0.273 | |
| Euroqol scale: −0.59 (bad) to 1.00 | 0.73 (0.20) | 0.74 (0.18) | 0.66 (0.22) | 0.67 (0.27) | 0.951 | |
| Euroqol VAS: 0 (bad) to 100 | 72.7 (17.4) | 71.4 (14.7) | 68.2 (18.6) | 68.7 (15.9) | 0.633 | |
| UPDRS, speech: 0 (good) to 4 | 1.40 (0.97) | 1.68 (0.93) | 1.60 (0.97) | 1.61 (0.97) | 0.129 | |
| UPDRS, salivation: 0 (good) to 4 | 1.13 (1.11) | 1.24 (1.04) | 1.21 (1.03) | 1.34 (1.17) | 0.922 | |
| UPDRS, swallowing: 0 (good) to 4 | 0.89 (1.05) | 0.85 (1.09) | 1.15 (1.10) | 1.10 (1.07) | 0.923 | |
| UPDRS, writing: 0 (good) to 4 | 2.17 (1.14) | 2.27 (1.16) | 2.30 (1.15) | 2.46 (1.05) | 0.747 | |
| HAD, anxiety: 0 (good) to 21 | 6.1 (3.5) | 6.2 (3.4) | 6.1 (3.4) | 5.8 (3.6) | 0.472 | |
| HAD, depression: 0 (good) to 21 | 5.6 (3.9) | 5.0 (3.6) | 5.2 (3.3) | 4.9 (3.2) | 0.625 | |
| Carers (n = 68) | ||||||
| Carer strain index: 0 (no strain) to 13 | 3.0 (2.7), n=40 | 3.6 (3.4), n=28 | 3.7 (3.0), n=39 | 3.3 (3.0), n=28 | 0.086e | |
| Euroqol scale: −0.59 (bad) to 1 | 0.86 (0.21), n=40 | 0.83 (0.33), n=27 | 0.82 (0.20), n=39 | 0.81 (0.18), n=29 | 0.592 | |
| Euroqol VAS: 0 (bad) to 100 | 78.4 (17.1), n=40 | 79.0 (14.5), n=27 | 77.8 (19.8), n=39 | 80.8 (14.5), n=29 | 0.996 | |