Depression and distress predict time to cardiovascular disease in dementia caregivers.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the impact of depressive symptoms and distress from patient problem behaviors on time to developing a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a sample of 643 dementia family caregivers.


METHODS
A longitudinal, prospective design was used. Over an 18-month period, caregivers free from a CVD diagnosis at baseline were assessed at 6, 12, and 18-month follow-ups for the onset of CVD.


METHODS
Days to the onset of CVD was the primary outcome.


RESULTS
Over the length of the study, 32 participants (5%) reported a diagnosis of CVD. After adjusting for sociodemographic and health factors (e.g., high blood pressure, age, smoking history), greater depressive symptoms (p = .040) and distress from patient problem behaviors (p = .034) were significant predictors of time to CVD diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that increased depressive symptoms and reaction to patient problem behaviors (i.e., distress) may increase caregivers' risk for experiencing negative health outcomes, specifically CVD.
Mausbach
Brent T
BT
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0680, USA. bmausbach@ucsd.edu
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
Rabinowitz
Yaron G
YG
Grant
Igor
I
Schulz
Richard
R
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*