Fatigue is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but even so, it may still be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in current practice due to its non-specific manifestations. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of fatigue in PD patients compared to healthy controls and to identify the main characteristics and associations of fatigue with other non-motor symptoms and the impact of fatigue on sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s disease. Materials and methods: case–control study in which 131 PD patients and 131 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Main characteristics of fatigue, sleep, and other non-motor symptoms were assessed using specific validated questionnaires. Results: According to the Chalder fatigue scale, fatigue is more prevalent in PD patients (38.16%) compared to healthy controls (26.71%). Fatigue was identified in 46.54% of the PD patients using the Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale (PFS-16). PD patients with fatigue presented a worse motor status, more sleep disturbances (insomnia, daytime sleepiness), a broader spectrum of non-motor symptoms (pain, anxiety, urinary disturbances), worse cognitive performances, a lower level of happiness, and worse quality of life compared to PD patients without fatigue. Conclusion: Fatigue is a common symptom of PD and needs to be assessed, considering its consequences on quality of life. Sleep disturbances have a great influence over fatigue in PD patients.

Background: Nocturia has a high prevalence in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and is known to be a bothersome symptom for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Objective: to characterize nocturia in a sample of PwPD, in relation to sleep, fatigue and other non-motor symptoms (NMS). Methods: we assessed 130 PwPD using a comprehensive battery of scales, which includes the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ), International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Rating Scale (MDS-NMS), Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale version 2 (PDSS-2), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), The Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Short form (OABq-SF), and the Parkinson’s Fatigue Scale (PFS-16). Results: according to the positive answers to the item of the NMSQ related to nocturia, patients were divided into PwPD + nocturia, and PwPD − nocturia. Nocturia was reported by 112 patients (86.15%). Quality of life in PwPD + nocturia was worse than in PwPD − nocturia, according to the PDQ-39 scores (13.32 ± 9.00 vs. 26.29 ± 14.55, p < 0.001). Sleep was significantly disturbed in PwPD + nocturia compared to PwPD − nocturia, according to the total scores of various scales, such as PDSS-2, PFS-16. PwPD who complained of nocturia presented higher scores of several NMS. Conclusions: nocturia has a high prevalence in PwPD and it is associated with impaired sleep, fatigue, and reduced quality of life.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) might worsen sleep quality and quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). Objective: The main aim of the present study is to explore the associations between RLS and sleep, quality of life and other non-motor symptoms (NMS) in a sample of PwPD. Methods: We compared the clinical features of 131 PwPD with and without RLS, in a cross-sectional study. We used several validated scales for assessment: the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group rating scale (IRLS), Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale version 2 (PDSS-2), Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ) and International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Non-Motor Rating Scale (MDS-NMS). Results: Thirty-five patients (26.71%) out of the total PwPD met the RLS diagnostic criteria, without significant differences between male (57.14%) and female (42.87%) (p = 0.431). Higher total scores of PDSS-2 were recorded among PwPD + RLS (p < 0.001), suggesting worse sleep quality. Significant correlations were observed between the diagnosis of RLS and some types of pain (especially nocturnal pain), physical fatigue and probable sleep-disordered breathing, according to the MDS-NMSS assessment. Conclusions: RLS has a high frequency in PwPD and it requires proper management, considering its consequences on sleep and quality of life.