Gianluca Pucciarelli1, Davide Ausili2, Alessia Antonella Galbussera3, Paola Rebora3, Serenella Savini4, Silvio Simeone5, Rosaria Alvaro1, Ercole Vellone1. 1. Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. 2. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. 3. Centre of Biostatistics for Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. 4. Sapienza University, Bracciano, Rome, Italy. 5. Department of Cardiology, Policlinico Federico II, Naples, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: To longitudinally describe stroke caregivers' quality of life, anxiety, depression and burden and to identify predictors of stroke caregivers' quality of life, anxiety, depression and burden. BACKGROUND: Caregivers have a key role in stroke survivor care and the first year of caregiving is the most challenging. To give tailored interventions, it is important to capture changes and identify predictors of caregiver quality of life, anxiety, depression and burden during the first year. DESIGN: A 12-month longitudinal study. Data were collected between June 2013-May 2016. METHODS: Changes in stroke caregiver quality of life, anxiety and depression and burden and their predictors were identified using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The caregivers (N = 244) were 53 years old and mostly female. Caregiver quality of life did not change significantly over the 12 months, anxiety and depression decreased up to 9 months and caregiver burden decreased from baseline to 3 months, then increased up to 9 months. Higher caregiver quality of life was predicted by caregiver younger age, higher education, living with a stroke survivor, survivor older age and higher physical functioning; higher anxiety and depression were predicted by older caregiver age and younger survivor age; higher burden was predicted by caregiver male gender, the caregiver not living with survivor and survivor lower physical functioning. CONCLUSION: The first 9 months of caregiving are particularly problematic for caregivers. The trajectories of the above variables and their predictors may be useful for policy makers, clinicians, investigators and educators to give better care to stroke caregivers and their survivors.
AIM: To longitudinally describe stroke caregivers' quality of life, anxiety, depression and burden and to identify predictors of stroke caregivers' quality of life, anxiety, depression and burden. BACKGROUND: Caregivers have a key role in stroke survivor care and the first year of caregiving is the most challenging. To give tailored interventions, it is important to capture changes and identify predictors of caregiver quality of life, anxiety, depression and burden during the first year. DESIGN: A 12-month longitudinal study. Data were collected between June 2013-May 2016. METHODS: Changes in stroke caregiver quality of life, anxiety and depression and burden and their predictors were identified using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The caregivers (N = 244) were 53 years old and mostly female. Caregiver quality of life did not change significantly over the 12 months, anxiety and depression decreased up to 9 months and caregiver burden decreased from baseline to 3 months, then increased up to 9 months. Higher caregiver quality of life was predicted by caregiver younger age, higher education, living with a stroke survivor, survivor older age and higher physical functioning; higher anxiety and depression were predicted by older caregiver age and younger survivor age; higher burden was predicted by caregiver male gender, the caregiver not living with survivor and survivor lower physical functioning. CONCLUSION: The first 9 months of caregiving are particularly problematic for caregivers. The trajectories of the above variables and their predictors may be useful for policy makers, clinicians, investigators and educators to give better care to stroke caregivers and their survivors.
Authors: Elton H Lobo; Mohamed Abdelrazek; John Grundy; Finn Kensing; Patricia M Livingston; Lene J Rasmussen; Sheikh Mohammed Shariful Islam; Anne Frølich Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-11-26