A patient with Parkinson's Disease may experience a sudden, unexpected death. In many cases the immediate cause of death may not be readily apparent.
Some patients with Parkinson's disease develop a cardiac autonomic dysfunction, which may be associated with a prolonged QTc interval. The presence of a prolonged QTc may be associated with a fatal arrhythmia, sometimes triggered by medications.
Other risk factors:
(1) sleep apnea
(2) adverse drug effects not associated with QTc prolongation
(3) coronary artery disease
(4) cardiomyopathy
(5) cardiac arrhythmias not associated with QTc prolongation
Differential diagnosis:
(1) suicide
(2) cerebrovascular disease
(3) pneumonia
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
