HEATWAVES INCREASE MORTALITY IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

17th November 2016 

Parkinson's Disease is one of the factors associated with a higher risk of mortality during heat waves. The use of certain neuroleptic drugs to control some of the complications of Parkinson's Disease appears to be what relates Parkinson's Disease to an increase in heat-related mortality. 

There was a maximum daily temperature of 30°C at which Parkinson's Disease related hospital admissions were at a minimum. However, a temperature of 34°C coincides with a clear increase in the number of hospital admissions. For people with Parkinson's Disease, for every increase of 1°C above the threshold temperature of 30°C the likelihood of an admission to hospital because of the heat increased.

Reference : Environmental International [2016] 89-90 : 1-6 (C.Linares, P.Martinez-Martin, C.Rodriguez-Blazquez, M.J.Forjaz, R.Carmona, J.Diaz)

Complete abstract : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26824434 

http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/161117.pdf