The risk of bladder and autonomic dysfunction in a community cohort of Parkinson's disease patients and normal controls.

A questionnaire investigating bladder problems, symptoms of autonomic dysfunction, social handicap and depression was mailed to a sample of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and to elderly control subjects without PD. The patients reported two-fold greater risk of bladder problems and four-fold risk of autonomic problems compared to the controls. Erectile dysfunction was nearly twice as frequent in patients compared to controls. Depressive symptoms in the PD group were predictive of bladder problems and autonomic impairment and also poorer social functioning and dependency in activities of daily living. No associations between bladder and autonomic dysfunction, age, or severity/duration of PD were found. This investigation shows that the risk of bladder, autonomic and erectile dysfunction is significantly greater in patients with PD compared to a control group.