LAUSR

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented disruptions involving every aspect of life across the globe, with the return to normalcy a distant dream. The healthcare sector has undergone dramatic changes to cope with the current needs, and consequently acute care is in the forefront. Attempts to curb COVID-19 have forced countries to be under lockdown, with strict emphases on self-isolation and social distancing. Both factors raise serious concerns about the well-being of patients with chronic illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), as these patients require routine hospital visits for evaluation and dose adjustment. Currently, there is no evidence that patients with PD have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 or have worse outcomes. Although healthcare professionals may be aware of this, patients and their caregivers may harbor different perceptions pertaining to these interactions. Furthermore, lockdowns may restrict access to healthcare and physical exercise and may produce additional stress, which could potentially lead to the worsening of motor and nonmotor symptoms in this vulnerable group. We report our experience at ascertaining the perceptions and implications of COVID-19 in 100 patients with PD and their caregivers who are under follow-up at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India. Per the hospital directives, patients were contacted via telephone for routine follow-up, and questions pertaining to COVID-19 were asked to clarify misconceptions, if any (Table 1). All participants reported an awareness of COVID19, with television being the main source of information, and followed preventive measures. Most patients (82%) and caregivers (85%) did not attempt to explore interactions between COVID-19 and PD, as they felt that there was no association between them. However, a small percentage did not explore