Clinical and Demographic Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Caregivers of Patients with Dementia

Abstract

Background and Purpose We aimed to elucidate independent predictors of adverse outcomes in caregivers of patients with dementia using readily available clinical and demographic data of patients with dementia and their caregivers. Methods We reviewed patient-caregiver data from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea and Caregivers of Alzheimer Disease Research study. The clinical factors of the patients and the demographics of both patients and caregivers were used to predict adverse outcomes for caregivers. Correlation and linear regression analyses were performed. Results We enrolled 454 patients and their caregivers for the present study. The general burden for the caregiver was higher amongst female caregivers, patients with further decreased the level of activities of daily living (ADL), patients with more abnormal behavior, or younger patients. The time spent by the caregivers was more in cases of patients with higher Caregiver Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores, younger patients and for patients with decreased level of ADL. Depression amongst caregivers was more prominent in patients with higher Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes scores. Physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was lower in female caregivers, more physically affected patients, and older caregivers. Lastly, mental HRQoL was lower in younger, more physically affected, and in patients with abnormal behaviors. Conclusions Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients and caregivers predict adverse outcomes for caregivers. Therefore, these factors should be considered to provide support to both patients and their caregivers.

Predictors of the one-year-change in depressiveness in informal caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia

“…Common predictors and correlates of caregiver depression include behavioral and psychological symptoms, female gender of caregivers, being the spouse of the PWD, low social support, competence and coping strategies of the caregiver [ 1 , 14 – 16 ]. Other studies have found correlations between depression and dementia severity [ 17 , 18 ], lower caregiver education [ 19 , 20 ], or ADL dependence [ 21 ]. However, two facts stand out when reviewing previous literature on this topic: for one, most studies feature a cross-sectional design [ 14 , 15 ], which makes the direction of causation unclear.…”

Patient–Caregiver Treatment Preference Discordance and Its Association With Caregiving Burden and Esteem

“…These analyses were controlled for patient and caregiver characteristics that past literature associated with caregiver burden. Specifically, for patient characteristics we controlled for age ( Lee et al, 2019 ), symptom burden ( Dyck et al, 1999 ), and availability of private insurance ( Hu et al, 2018 ; Yes = 1, No = 0). Regarding caregiver characteristics, we controlled for age ( Brazil et al, 2003 ), gender ( Hsiao, 2010 ; Male = 1, Female = 0), current marital status ( Park et al, 2012 ; Married = 1, Not Married = 0), working status ( Bekdemir & Ilhan, 2019 ; Working Full Time or Part Time = 1, Not Working = 0), self-reported financial status ( Bradley et al, 2009 ; Adequate and Above = 1, Below Adequate = 0), relationship to patient (Spouse “Wife/Husband” = 1, Others = 0; Abdollahpour et al, 2012 ), how well caregivers get along with patients (Very Well = 1, Quite Well and Below = 0; Steadman et al, 2007 ), caregiving for others ( Kim et al, 2019 ; Yes = 1, No = 0), and caregiving hours per week ( Kim et al, 2012 ).…”

Prediction of tau accumulation in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease using an ensemble machine learning approach

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