Quality of life in primary caregivers of patients with cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Stroke is the leading cause of motor and neuropsychological disability in adults worldwide, requiring a primary caregiver (PC) during rehabilitation. The relationship between PC and a patient with cerebrovascular sequelae (PC-PCVD) is complex and bidirectional. Indeed, literature shows a serious deterioration in the PC's quality of life during the follow-up. Through a narrative review of articles published in the last 20 years, this study aims to know the quality of life of PC-CVD, analyze the determinants of the vulnerability of PC-PCVD, and identify the most used test. PC-PCVD was found to have a lower-than-expected quality of life in physical and emotional domains. Being a woman, single, of mayor age, 3 h of daily care, limited income, and symptoms of anxiety or depression were the main risk factors associated with lower quality of life among PCs. The main assessment tools of quality of life were the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF and the SF-36 Health Survey.