J Clin Neurol.  2019 Jan;15(1):77-83. 10.3988/jcn.2019.15.1.77.

Quality of Life and Emotional Strain in Caregivers of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

• Petrikis P
• Baldouma A
• Katsanos A
• Konitsiotis S
• Giannopoulos S

• KMID: 2451148
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3988/jcn.2019.15.1.77

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
This study aimed was to measure the quality of life, fatigue, stress, and depression in a consecutive sample of caregivers of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.
METHODS
We included data from 131 consecutive caregivers of MS patients [age=51.2±12.8 years (mean±SD), males=53.4%, duration of caregiving=10.0±6.3 years]. We assessed the quality of life, fatigue, stress, and depression of the caregivers using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, Krupp Fatigue Severity Scale, Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale, and Hamilton Scale for Depression, respectively. The disability status of the patients was assessed using the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale. We used linear regression models to identify possible correlations between all of the aforementioned scales, while multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess the correlations of caregiver fatigue with caregiver characteristics and patient disability.
RESULTS
The linear regression analyses revealed that caregiver fatigue was positively associated with stress and negatively correlated with both physical health status and mental health status. Caregiver stress was positively associated with depression and negatively correlated with both physical health status and mental health status. Depression was negatively correlated with both caregiver physical health status and mental health status. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, caregiver fatigue was found to be independently associated with education status [odds ratio (OR)=0.61, 95% CI=0.37 to 0.99], history of chronic disease (OR=5.52, 95% CI=1.48 to 20.55), other chronic diseases in the family (OR=7.48, 95% CI=1.49 to 37.47), and the disability status of the patient (OR=1.36, 95% CI=1.03 to 1.80).
CONCLUSIONS
Fatigue, stress, and depression in caregivers of MS patients are negatively correlated with their physical health status and mental health status. Caregiver fatigue is independently associated with education status, history of chronic disease, other chronic disease in the family, and patient disability.

Keyword

multiple sclerosis; caregivers; health status; fatigue; depression; quality of life; anxiety

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Caregivers*
Chronic Disease
Depression
Education
Fatigue
Health Surveys
Humans
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Mental Health
Multiple Sclerosis*
Quality of Life*
Weights and Measures

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Association of stress with the physical health status (A) and mental health status (B) of caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis. Stress was assessed using the KCSS, while physical health status and mental health status were assessed with the PCS and MCS, respectively, of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. KCSS: Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale, MCS: mental component summary, PCS: physical component summary.

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