NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE PATIENTS UNDERGOING DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION SURGERY: A PILOT STUDY

Ob jec tive s: Peop le w ith Pa rkins on’s di se ase (PD) are at higher ri sk of malnutrit ion due to PD symptoms and pharmacotherapy side effects. When pharmacotherapy is no longer effective for symptom control, deep-brain stimulation (DBS) surgery may be co nsidered. The aim of this study w as to assess the nutrit ional status of pe o ple w i th PD wh o ma y b e a t h i gher r isk of ma lnutrit i on relate d t o u nsa tisfa cto ry sympto m ma nagement with op timised medica l therap y. De sign: Th is was an obs ervational study usin g a convenience sample. Setting: Participants were seen during their hospital admission for their deep brain stimulation surgery. Participants: People with PD schedul ed for DBS surgery were re cruited from a Brisb ane neurological clinic (n=15 ). Mea surements: The Pat ient-Generat ed Subjec tive Global Assessment (PG -SGA), weight, hei ght and body composition were assessed to determine nutritional status. Results: Six participants (40%) were classified as moder at el y maln ourish ed (SGA-B) . Eig ht par ticipants (5 3%) repo rt ed p revi ous un intention al wei ght los s (average loss of 13%). On average, participants classified as well-nourished (SGA-A) were younger, had shorter di sea se durations, lower PG -SGA scores, hig her body mass (BMI) an d fat free mass indice s (FFMI) when compared to malnourished participants (SGA-B). Five participants had previously received dietetic advice but only one in relation to unintentional weight loss. Conclusion: Malnutrition remains unrecognised and untreated in this group despite unintentional weight loss and presence of nutrition impact symptoms. Improving nutritional status prior to surgery may improve surgical outcomes.