Factors Associated with Increased Caregiver Burden of Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan

Abstract

This study’s objective was to explore the association between various factors and the increased caregiver burden of informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. On February, 2021, 700 informal caregivers completed an online survey. We assessed the change in caregiver burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among all caregiver participants, 287 (41.0%) complained of an increased caregiver burden due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The factors associated with increased caregiver burden were depressive symptoms in caregivers [odds ratio (OR), 2.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.50–3.23], dementia (OR, 2.48; 95%CI, 1.07–5.73) and low Barthel Index scores (OR, 2.01; 95%CI, 1.39–2.90) in care receivers, care days (OR, 1.09; 95%CI, 1.01–1.17) and times (OR, 1.06; 95%CI, 1.01–1.10), and use of home care service (OR, 1.46; 95%CI, 1.01–2.10) and visiting care service (OR, 1.71; 95%CI, 1.20–2.45). These findings suggest we need to pay attention to the physical and mental health of both the care receivers and caregivers.