Impact of Alzheimer's disease on the family caregiver's long-term quality of life: results from an ALSOVA follow-up study.

Purpose: To examine caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being during the first 3 years after their family member's Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and assessed the relationship between caregivers' HRQoL, well-being, and the severity of AD. Further, to compare of caregivers...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Quality of Life Research Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 687 - 698
Autores principales: Välimäki, Tarja, Martikainen, Janne, Hongisto, Kristiina, Väätäinen, Saku, Sintonen, Harri, Koivisto, Anne, Välimäki, Tarja H, Martikainen, Janne A, Koivisto, Anne M
Formato: research Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature Mar2016
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Purpose: To examine caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being during the first 3 years after their family member's Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and assessed the relationship between caregivers' HRQoL, well-being, and the severity of AD. Further, to compare of caregivers' HRQoL to general population.Methods: Longitudinal design (36 months) after AD diagnosis of 236 caregiver-patient dyads. Linear regression was used to assess age- and gender-adjusted association between repeated measurements of caregivers' HRQoL and the severity of AD. For comparison with general population, the National Health 2011 Health Examination Survey data was utilized.Results: Caregivers had significantly lower HRQoL than age- and gender-standardized counterparts. Severity of AD was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the mobility and depression dimensions of caregiver's HRQoL but not with the total HRQoL index score.Conclusions: Caregivers' HRQoL seems to deteriorate earlier than previously noted. The severity of AD has not that great impact on caregiver's HRQoL as assumed.