Background: Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. Examples of non-motor symptoms are depression, fatigue, obstipation and pain. Previous studies have shown that both motor and non-motor symptoms effect the health-related quality of life.

Aim: To assess the effects of non-motor symptoms on health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease

Method: A literature review comprising of nine quantitative studies was conducted.

Result: The analysis resulted in four main categories of non-motor symptoms that showed impact on health-related quality of life. The categories where symptoms related to mental health, problems related to sleep and tiredness, autonomic symptoms and pain. The analysis also showed that the most common symptoms in these categories were depression, fatigue, anxiety, pain and cognitive impairment.

Conclusion: Non-motor symptoms have a negative impact on health-related quality of life in Parkinson’s disease. The non-motor symptoms with the largest impact on health-related quality of life was depression, followed by fatigue, anxiety, pain and cognitive impairment. Non-motor symptoms are underdiagnosed and underreported. Therefore, it’s important for nurses to have the knowledge about the different symptoms and their impact on health-related quality of life.