We commend our team for their scholarly excellence and continued commitment to advancing care in Parkinson’s disease.
We are proud to congratulate Hikaru Kamo, Rachel Burke, Tejas Mehta, Michael Okun and Christopher Hess on the publication of their important research article, “Urinary Tract Infections in Hospitalized Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Risk Factors and Outcomes,” featured in the February issue of Movement Disorders Clinical Practice.
This study addresses a clinically significant and often underrecognized complication in patients with Parkinson’s disease—urinary tract infections (UTIs) during hospitalization. By systematically examining risk factors and associated outcomes, the authors provide valuable insights that can inform inpatient management strategies, reduce morbidity, and improve quality of care for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease.
Hospital-acquired infections remain a major driver of prolonged length of stay, functional decline, and healthcare costs, particularly in neurologically vulnerable populations. This work contributes meaningful data to the movement disorders field and underscores the importance of proactive screening, prevention strategies, and interdisciplinary care models for hospitalized patients.
Abstract
Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common complications among hospitalized patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and are associated with delirium and prolonged hospitalization.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of UTI, identify modifiable risk factors, and evaluate associated outcomes among hospitalized patients with PD.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the PINC-AI Healthcare Database including PD-related hospitalizations from 2019 to 2023. UTIs diagnosed on admission or during hospitalization were identified, and multivariable analyses were performed.
Results: Among more than 321,000 PD hospitalizations, 18.9% were associated with UTI. Emergent admission, inter-facility transfer, dementia, and indwelling urinary catheter use were independently associated with UTI, whereas male sex was protective. UTI was associated with prolonged length of stay and delirium.
Conclusions: UTIs are frequent among hospitalized patients with PD and are associated with several modifiable risk factors. These findings may inform PD-specific inpatient strategies for UTI prevention and risk stratification.