Predictors of caregiver burden in patients with neurologic Wilson disease

OBJECTIVES: Caregiver burden in neurologic Wilson disease (NWD) has received little attention. We investigated predictors of caregiver burden in Chinese NWD patients. METHODS: Participants in this retrospective study were NWD patients admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 1 August to 31 December 2019. Sociodemographic information was recorded for caregivers and NWD patients. Caregiver burden was evaluated using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI). Cognitive impairment, functional problems, depression and anxiety were evaluated by professional interviewers. Path analysis was used to evaluate predictors of CBI scores. RESULTS: Sixty NWD patients were enrolled (mean age: 21.35 ± 4.89 years; mean NWD duration: 7.85 ± 3.11 years). The mean CBI score was 52.00 ± 17.16. Care duration had a significant direct effect on CBI score after controlling for confounders (r = 0.493). Cognitive impairment (r = −0.426), functional problems (r = 0.581), depression (r = 0.349) and anxiety (r = 0.317) had significant indirect effects on CBI score. CONCLUSION: Caregivers of NWD patients may experience a medium level of caregiver burden. NWD duration, cognitive impairment, functional problems, depression and anxiety in NWD patients may be useful predictors of caregiver burden.