BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) are often given shunt operations to reduce the triad symptoms (cognitive impairment, gait disturbance and urinary disturbance). We examined whether they also reduce caregiver burden. METHODS: The personal strain (PS) and role strain (RS) factors, which are related to the stress and constraints, respectively, on the caregivers of 81 iNPH patients were evaluated with the Zarit burden interview (ZBI) and each of the triad symptoms was evaluated with the iNPH grading scale (iNPHGS) before and 1 year after the shunt operation. RESULTS: Each of the iNPHGS scores, the total ZBI score and PS factor significantly improved after the shunt operation, but the RS factor did not. The improvement of cognitive impairment was the major factor in reducing caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Shunt operations reduced the caregiver burden of iNPH patients.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) are often given shunt operations to reduce the triad symptoms (cognitive impairment, gait disturbance and urinary disturbance). We examined whether they also reduce caregiver burden. METHODS: The personal strain (PS) and role strain (RS) factors, which are related to the stress and constraints, respectively, on the caregivers of 81 iNPH patients were evaluated with the Zarit burden interview (ZBI) and each of the triad symptoms was evaluated with the iNPH grading scale (iNPHGS) before and 1 year after the shunt operation. RESULTS: Each of the iNPHGS scores, the total ZBI score and PS factor significantly improved after the shunt operation, but the RS factor did not. The improvement of cognitive impairment was the major factor in reducing caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Shunt operations reduced the caregiver burden of iNPH patients.
Authors: Marta Picascia; Roberta Zangaglia; Sara Bernini; Brigida Minafra; Elena Sinforiani; Claudio Pacchetti Journal: Funct Neurol Date: 2015 Oct-Dec
Authors: Diana F Pricop; Arsenije Subotic; Beatrice A M Anghelescu; Matthew Eagles; Mark Hamilton; Pamela Roach Journal: J Patient Exp Date: 2022-04-11