Clinical and Demographic Predictors of Adverse Outcomes in Caregivers of Patients with Dementia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to elucidate independent predictors of adverse outcomes in caregivers of patients with dementia using readily available clinical and demographic data of patients with dementia and their caregivers. METHODS: We reviewed patient-caregiver data from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea and Caregivers of Alzheimer Disease Research study. The clinical factors of the patients and the demographics of both patients and caregivers were used to predict adverse outcomes for caregivers. Correlation and linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: We enrolled 454 patients and their caregivers for the present study. The general burden for the caregiver was higher amongst female caregivers, patients with further decreased the level of activities of daily living (ADL), patients with more abnormal behavior, or younger patients. The time spent by the caregivers was more in cases of patients with higher Caregiver Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores, younger patients and for patients with decreased level of ADL. Depression amongst caregivers was more prominent in patients with higher Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes scores. Physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was lower in female caregivers, more physically affected patients, and older caregivers. Lastly, mental HRQoL was lower in younger, more physically affected, and in patients with abnormal behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and demographic characteristics of patients and caregivers predict adverse outcomes for caregivers. Therefore, these factors should be considered to provide support to both patients and their caregivers.