Abstract: Objective To analyze characteristics of sleep structure in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) by polysomnogram (PSG) and investigate the probable pathogenesis. Methods Clinical data about 33 patients with PD from outpatient service or inpatient department of our hospital from October 2011 to February 2014 and 33 controls who were monitored by polysomnographic (PSG) evaluation were collected and analyzed. Results Of the 33 patients, 4 were found to have early awakening vs 0 in control group, fragmented sleep in 25 vs 16 in control group, and REM sleep without atonia in 16 vs 3 in control group. The morbidity in PD patients group were significantly higher than that in controls (P＜ 0.05). Compared with control group, the percentage of awakening time occupying total sleep time S1 (%) in PD patients group were higher than that in controls, S3 (%) and REM (%) in PD patients group were lower than that in controls. There were no statistical difference in sleep structural parameter between PD group (course≤2 years) and controls, the percentage of awakening time occupying total sleep time and S1 (%) in PD group (course＞ 2 years) were higher while S3 (%), REM (%) was lower than that in controls. The percentage of awakening time occupy total sleep time was higher in PD group (course≤2 years) while REM (%) was lower than that of PD group (course＞ 2 years). Conclusion The main clinical manifestations of PD patients with sleep disorder are early awakening, fragmented sleep and REM sleep without atonia. It is obviously that sleep disorder exists in PD patients, the time of light sleep becomes longer while deep sleep becomes shorter, and PD's course is a main factor that affects their sleep structure.