[The chronically ill at home and the impact in main caregivers].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the repercussions that caring for chronically sick patients at home can have on the health of the main carers.


METHODS
A descriptive crossover study.


METHODS
"Raval Nord" Health District, Barcelona.


METHODS
All the 336 chronically sick at home recorded in the home-care programme during January to March 1996. All the 236 carers identified during the same period.


RESULTS
75% of the patients and 72% of those considered the main carers answered a home questionnaire. Most of the chronically ill at home were women (67%), with an average age of 81 (SD, 11). 18% presented severe disorders in the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), test which showed a significant relationship (p < 0.0001) with less autonomy according to the Katz index. 36% of carers remarked physical problems such as repeated back-aches and lumbago.


CONCLUSIONS
The most important disorders affecting the autonomy and mental health of chronic patients at home lead to increased psychological malaise in the career, especially if he/she is a family member.
Segura Noguera
J M
JM
Bastida Bastús
N
N
Martí Guadaño
N
N
Riba Romeva
M
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Los enfermos crónicos domiciliarios y su repercusión en los cuidadores principales.