Assessment of health-related quality of life for caregivers of Alzheimer's disease patients

Abstract

Background. Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that results in total cognitive impairment and functional decline. Family members are the most usual caregivers worldwide, resulting in a subsequent degradation of their quality of life. Methods. During November 2013-March 2014 in Athens, Greece, 155 AD patients' family caregivers' Health-Related Quality of Life and existence of depressive symptomatology were assessed. Results. A strong negative correlation between the dimensions of HRQoL and the scores of the depression scale was revealed. AD patients' caregivers have a lower HRQoL almost in all dimensions compared to the Greek urban general population. The caregivers' social role, the existence of emotional problems, and their mental health status led to this result. Furthermore significantly important differences in caregivers' total HRQoL and depressive symptomatology were indicated in relation to their gender, hypertension existence, patient care frequency, cohabitation with the patient, disease aggravation, and economic status. Conclusions. Caring for relatives with AD strongly correlates with negative caregivers' HRQoL scores and adversely affects their depressive symptomatology. This negative correlation is enhanced in the later stages of the disease, in greater frequency of care, through living with a patient, in poor financial status, and with the existence of a chronic illness.