Connors MH, Seeher K, Teixeira-Pinto A, Woodward M, Ames D, Brodaty H. Mild Cognitive Impairment and Caregiver Burden: A 3-Year-Longitudinal Study.
Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2019;
27:1206-1215. [PMID:
31230914 DOI:
10.1016/j.jagp.2019.05.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is common, affecting 10%-35% of people over 65, and poses unique challenges for patients and their caregivers. Comparatively little research has examined caregiver burden in this population, with longitudinal research, in particular, lacking. We examined caregiver burden in a sample of people with MCI over 3 years.
DESIGN
Three-year observational study.
SETTING
Nine memory clinics in Australia.
PARTICIPANTS
One-hundred-and-eighty-five people with MCI and their caregivers.
MEASUREMENTS
Measures of caregiver burden, cognition, function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, driving status, and medication use were completed with patients and their caregivers at regular intervals over a 3-year period.
RESULTS
Between 21.1% and 29.5% of caregivers reported a clinically significant level of burden over the study. Patients' higher levels of neuropsychiatric symptoms, lower functional ability, and lack of driving ability, and caregivers' employment were associated with greater caregiver burden over time. Caregiver burden did not increase over time when controlling for patient and caregiver characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
High levels of caregiver burden are present in a significant proportion of caregivers of people with MCI. Clinical characteristics of patients - including severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms and functional impairment - and the employment status of caregivers predict burden. Such characteristics may help identify caregivers at greater risk of burden to target for intervention.
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