Factors associated with health-related quality of life among family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease.

Aim: Based on the ageing population and the inadequate healthcare system in China, the majority of care for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is provided by family caregivers. Caregivers suffer a long-term heavy care burden and pressure, which affects their physical and mental health. The present study aims at investigating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among family caregivers of AD patients and exploring its influencing factors.

Methods: This study included 206 family caregivers (76 male, 130 female) of AD patients recruited from one Tier 3 hospital, one psychiatric hospital, two gerocomiums and three communities in Ganzhou city, Jiangxi Province, China. Measures included the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of Life (WHO/ QOL-BREF) questionnaire, Zarit burden of care scale (ZBI), and social support rating scale (SSRS).We performed face-to-face or telephone interviews with patients and caregivers. The association between possible factors and changes in HRQOL was examined through stepwise multiple regression analysis.

Results: The majority of family caregivers felt moderate to severe level of burden. The average HRQOL score was 54.24 ± 10.36. The mean SSRS score was 30.4 ± 10.9. The average ZBI score was 41.2 ± 12.8. The HRQOL of family caregivers of AD patients was negatively correlated with the neuropsychiatric questionnaire score, ZBI score, and chronic diseases of caregivers (P < 0.05), and positively correlated with the SSRS score (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Reduced QOL was highly prevalent among AD patient family caregivers, and the level of burden, neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients, social support, and chronic diseases of caregivers were factors associated with HRQOL, and the effect of care burden is greatest. Interventions aimed at reducing the level of burden should focus not only on the patient but also on the caregiver.