AB1451-HPR Burden among caregivers in rheumatoid arthritis – a pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints affecting more than 1% of global population, it is a long term condition that causes pain and disability.1 Evidence had shown that most of the patients are moderately disabled, and about 10% of the patients suffered from severe disablement which brings the necessity of a caregiver to become the patient’s companion due to its chronic disease.2 The caregiving role can have an impact in the psychological and physical spheres of the caregiver’s life.3 ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to explore demographical characteristics and caregiver burden through the Zarit Scale.MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional study in a meeting where caregivers in a rheumatoid arthritis specialised setting. We collected sociodemographic information, and applied the Zarit caregiver burden interview (ZBI) adapted to Spanish. The ZBI includes 22 questions which has 5 responses from 0 (never) to 4 (nearly always), where scores lower than 47 indicated little to no burden, 47 to 55 low burden and >55 intense burden. We calculated means, and standard deviations for continuous variables and categorical variables were presented as rates. We categorised age of caregivers and compared to it to ZBI score, we used X2 to perform bivariate analysis.Results115 caregivers were included in the study, 63% were female and 37% were male. Mean age was 49 years±18 and 35% were single. Regarding educational level 44% had college degree, most of caregivers 30% had a full time job, and also 45% had other family members as their responsibility. See table 1. Zarit mean score was 44±14, additionally 71% had a score lower than 47. See table 1. Regarding age groups 35% of patients were older than 60 years and 15% of them were considered with intense burden disease, there was no statistical association between age and disease burden, see table 2.Abstract AB1451HPR – Table 1Zarit scoreZarit Score <47827147–551412>551917Abstract AB1451HPR – Table 2Zarit scale classification according to age groupsVariable15–39 years n=3640–60 years n=38Older than 60 years n=41P value No burden2028300.108Low burden8550.375Intense burden8560.436ConclusionsAlthough a high proportion of caregivers reported to have not burden, it is important to develop strategies and activities in order to attend the necessities of the caregivers in order to reduce the overload of responsibilities among them. Also further research is needed in order to identify the risk factors or protector factors that can prevent disease burden in caregivers.References[1] Prothero L, Georgopoulou S, de Souza S. Patient involvement in the development of a handbook for moderate rheumatoid arthritis. 2016.[2] Jacobi CE, van den Berg B, Boshuizen HC, Rupp I, Dinant HJ, van den Bos GA. Dimension-specific burden of caregiving among partners of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Rheumatology (Oxford, England). 2003;42(10):1226–33.[3] Win KK, Chong MS, Ali N, Chan M, Lim WS. Burden among Family Caregivers of Dementia in the Oldest-Old: An Explorator...