[The impact of caregiving on the emotional well-being and health of family caregivers.]

INTRODUCTION

Family caregivers, who take care of older relatives, bear a heavy burden that can detrimentally affect their physical health and emotional well-being.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to explore the subjective perceptions of family caregiving's impact on physical health and emotional well-being, the experience of feeling overburdened by caregiving responsibilities, and the subjective perceptions of health among caregivers of older relatives. Data from three waves of online questionnaire surveys conducted in 2018, 2020, and 2022 were analyzed.

METHOD

The COPE Index items were used to measure subjective perceptions of the impact of caregiving on physical health and emotional well-being and perceptions of being overburdened by caregiving. We present descriptive statistics and chi-square test analyses.

RESULTS

In all three waves, the majority of respondents frequently or always perceived a negative impact of caregiving on their emotional well-being and physical health, with more than half always or often experiencing caregiver overburdening. A significant correlation was observed between the perceived impact of caregiving on physical health and emotional well-being, over 70% of respondents provided similar responses to both questions. Furthermore, a significant relationship is between the prevalence of caregiver overburden and subjective perceptions of health, with those experiencing caregiver overload being more likely to report poor or very poor health. Over 60% of participants indicated frequent or constant overburden of care, with this subgroup exhibiting a higher likelihood of perceiving their health as poor or very poor.

DISCUSSION

Our results demonstrate that the caregiving burden affects both physical and emotional well-being. A significant proportion of family caregivers experience detrimental effects on their physical health and emotional well-being due to caregiving responsibilities. These negative effects were reported simultaneously by the majority of respondents.

CONCLUSION

Caregiving can have negative consequences on the health of family caregivers. Our research underscores the importance of preventive measures. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(40): 1583-1591.

Subjective expectations concerning life expectancy and age-related health burden

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A lakosság idősödésével növekvő betegségteher egyéni és társadalmi szinten is fokozódó nyomást jelent. Célkitűzés: Felmérni a hazai általános felnőtt lakosságnak a korlátozottsággal, a gondozási igényekkel és a munkavégzéssel kapcsolatos időskori szubjektív várakozásait. Módszer: Online keresztmetszeti felmérést végeztünk. A korlátozottsággal kapcsolatos várakozásokat a hivatalos szakstatisztikákban alkalmazott globális tevékenységkorlátozottsági mutató (Global Activity Limitation Indicator, GALI) segítségével elsőként vizsgáltuk. A jelen és szubjektíve várt munkavégzést, gondozási igényt, gondozói tevékenységet, valamint a jelen egészségi állapotot és szociodemográfiai helyzetet vizsgáló kérdéseket is feltettünk. Statisztikai analízis: A mintában mért adatokat lokális polinom segítségével simítottuk, és a 60/70/80/90 éves korra adott szubjektív várakozásokkal hasonlítottuk össze. A szubjektív várakozásokat meghatározó tényezőket intervallumregresszióval becsültük. Eredmények: 1000 kitöltőtől 914 érvényes választ kaptunk. Az átlagéletkor (± szórás) 51,2 (± 15,2) év, a minta 55,8%-a nő volt. A férfiak között a fizetett munkát végzők (p<0,001), a nők között az informális gondozók aránya volt magasabb (p = 0,010). Az átlagos (± szórás) szubjektíve várható élettartam (81,0 ± 11,1 év) a minta statisztikailag várható élettartamánál (79,6 ± 3,7 év) 1,3 évvel volt hosszabb (p<0,001), azonban az átlagos, szubjektíve várható egészséges élettartam (64,6 ± 15,2 év) 5,3 évvel volt rövidebb a statisztikailag várható értéknél (70,0 ± 4,2 év; p<0,001). A szubjektíve várható egészséges élettartamot és gondozási igényt elsősorban a válaszadók jelenlegi egészségi állapota befolyásolta. Az életmód és a szubjektíve várható egészséges élettartam között nőknél nem találtunk összefüggés, míg a túlzott gyakorisággal alkoholt fogyasztó vagy elhízott férfiak hosszabb egészséges élettartamra számítottak. A szubjektív várakozások meghatározó tényezői jelentős nemi különbségeket mutattak. Következtetés: Az egészséggel, munkával és gondozással kapcsolatos szubjektív várakozások eltérőek a populációban mért valós adatoktól, és különböznek a nemek között. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(23): 911-923.

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

The growing disease burden due to ageing populations poses a challenge on both individuals and societies.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the general population's subjective expectations concerning disability, care needs and employment at older ages.

METHOD

We conducted an online cross-sectional survey. We were the first to measure subjective health expectations using the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI) of official health statistics. Respondents' actual status and subjective expectations concerning employment, care needs and informal caregiver status, self-perceived health and sociodemographic factors were queried.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

We estimated sample characteristics by local polynomial smoothing and compared with subjective expectations at ages of 60/70/80/90 years. Determinants of subjective expectations were analyzed via interval regression.

RESULTS

From 1000 subjects, 914 provided valid responses. Mean (± SD) age was 51.2 (± 15.2) years, and 55.8% of respondents were women. Paid employment was more frequent among men (p<0.001), while informal caregiver status among women (p = 0.010). Mean (± SD) subjective life expectancy (81.0 ± 11.1 years) was 1.3 years longer (p<0.001) than actuarial life-expectancy (79.6 ± 3.7 years), while mean subjective healthy life expectancy (sHLE) (64.6 ± 15.2 years) was 5.3 years shorter than actuarial healthy life expectancy (70.0 ± 4.2 years; p<0.001). sHLE and care needs were mainly determined by respondents' self-perceived health. Lifestyle risks were not associated with sHLE in women, while pervasive drinker or obese men expected longer healthy life span. Determinants of sHLE showed considerable gender differences.

CONCLUSION

Subjective expectations concerning health, employment and care needs differ from actual values of the general population, with considerable gender differences. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(23): 911-923.

Epidemiology of anemia

Worldwide, the prevalence of anemia is high, and iron deficiency anemia is the fifth most common disorder according to the study called "Global burden of disease". It can be attributed to a number of factors, complex pathomechanisms, and etiology is highly variable in terms of age, gender, and geographical distribution. The prevalence of anemia increases with age. Demographic change and the aging of the population are now faster than in previous decades, posing major challenges to societies and health systems. The mean prevalence of anemia in the elderly is 17%, but significantly higher among nursing-home (47%) and hospitalized elderly (40%). The cause is usually multifactorial and often, due to comorbidities, several mechanisms are involved at the same time. The prevalence of preoperative anemia was higher (35%) than the prevalence of anemia in the general population, and evidence showed an unfavorable effect on postoperative morbidity and mortality. Timely identification and correction is a multidisciplinary task and a shared responsibility for both Patient Blood Management program and improving the patients' life expectancy. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(37): 1569-1573.

[The economic burden of prostate cancer. A systematic literature overview of registry-based studies]

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer, the most frequent malignant disease in males in Europe, accounts for a great proportion of health expenditures.

AIM

A systematic review of registry-based studies about the cost-of-illness and related factors of prostate cancer, published in the last 10 years.

METHOD

A MEDLINE-based literature review was carried out between January 1, 2003 and October 1, 2013.

RESULTS

Fifteen peer-reviewed articles met the criteria of interest. In developed countries radiotherapy, surgical treatment and hormone therapy account for the greatest per capita costs. In Europe early stage tumours (4-7000 €, 2006), while in the USA metastatic prostate cancer (19 900-25 500 $, 2004) was associated with highest per capita expenses. In Europe the greatest costs incurred within the initial treatment (6400 €/6 months, 2008), while in the USA within the end-of-life care (depending on age: 62 200-93 400 $, 2010).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite public health importance of prostate cancer, the cost-of-illness literature from Europe is relatively small.