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. 2014 Oct-Dec;8(4):376-383.
doi: 10.1590/S1980-57642014DN84000012.

Informal caregiver burden in middle-income countries: Results from Memory Centers in Lima - Peru

Nilton Custodio  1   2   3 , David Lira  1   2   3 , Eder Herrera-Perez  3   4   5 , Liza Nuñez Del Prado  3   6 , José Parodi  7 , Erik Guevara-Silva  8 , Sheila Castro-Suarez  3   9 , Marcela Mar  3 , Rosa Montesinos  2   3   10 , Patricia Cortijo  3
Affiliations

Informal caregiver burden in middle-income countries: Results from Memory Centers in Lima - Peru

Nilton Custodio et al. Dement Neuropsychol. 2014 Oct-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate caregiver burden based on Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and depression in caregivers on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II).

Methods: Literate individuals, 18 years or older, who spoke Spanish as their native language were included. Demographic characteristics: Age, sex, education, relationship to person with dementia, length of time caregiving, other sources of help for caring, impact on the household economy, family support, and perception of impaired health; and Clinical data on care-recipients: type of dementia, time since diagnosis, treatment, and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS); the ZBI and BDI-II. Descriptive and analytical statistics were employed to assess caregiver burden and predictors of higher burden in caregivers.

Results: A total of 92 informal caregivers were evaluated. Regarding care-recipients, 75% were 69 years old or over, 75% had at least one year since diagnosis, 73.9% had Alzheimer's disease, 84.8% received treatment, 75% scored 5 or over on the GDS. For caregivers, 75% were 55.5 years old or over, predominantly female (81.5%), married (83.7%), the spouse of care-recipients (60.87%), had at least 10 years of education (75.0%) and one year of caregiving (75%), reduced entertainment time (90.2%) and self-perception of impaired health (83.7%). Median score on the ZBI was 37.5 (minimum value = 3; and maximum value = 74). The coefficient of BDI was 1.38 (p-value <0.001).

Conclusion: This sample of Peruvian informal caregivers showed elevated ZBI values. Self-perception of worsened health, repercussion on the family economy and time caregiving were the main determinants of ZBI, although only BDI was a consistent predictor of ZBI.

Objetivo: Avaliar a sobrecarga do cuidador baseada na entrevista de Zarit (ZBI).

Métodos: Nós incluímos cuidadores com 18 anos ou mais de idade, língua espanhola como nativa, alfabetizados. Foram avaliadas características demográficas: idade, gênero, educação, relação com o paciente com demência, extensão do cuidado, outras fontes de ajuda para os cuidados, impacto na economia doméstica, suporte familiar e percepção do comprometimento de saúde; e dados clínicos de saúde dos pacientes: tipo de demência, tempo desde o diagnóstico, tratamento e escala de deterioração global (GDS); ZBI e BDI-II.

Resultados: Avaliamos 92 cuidadores informais. Os pacientes tinham 69 anos ou mais, 75% tinha pelo menos um ano do diagnóstico, 73,9% com doença de Alzheimer, 84,8% recebia algum tratamento, 75% tiveram GDS de 5 ou mais. Quanto aos cuidadores: 75% tinham 55 anos ou mais, mulheres (81,5%), casados (83,7%), cônjuge (60,9%), com pelo menos 10 anos de educação (75%) e um ano de cuidado (75%), tempo reduzido de entretenimento (90,2%) e autopercepção de comprometimento da saúde (83,7%). A mediana da ZBI foi 38 (mínimo: 3 e máximo: 74). O coeficiente de BDI foi 1,38 (p<0,001).

Conclusão: Nossa amostra de cuidadores informais peruanos mostram valores consideráveis na ZBI. A autopercepção de piora de saúde, repercussão na economia familiar e tempo de cuidado foram os principais determinantes da ZBI, embora somente a BDI foi um preditor consistente de ZBI.

Keywords: Peru; burden; caregiver; dementia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Zarit test scores according to time since diagnosis in 92 subjects attended at the neurology consultancy of the "Clínica Internacional", by dementia sub-type.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Zarit test scores according to global dementia scale points in 92 subjects attended at the neurology consultancy of "Clínica Internacional", by dementia sub-type.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Zarit scores according to time caregiving in 92 subjects attended at the neurology consultancy of the "Clínica Internacional", by dementia sub-type.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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