[Correlation between burden on caregiver and clinical characteristics of patients with dementia].
OBJECTIVE
To verify the correlation between caregiver burden in dementia and characteristics of patients and caregivers.


METHODS
Analysis of medical records. Patient data: socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, medications (previous and current), onset of diagnosis and symptoms, type of dementia and severity (cognitive impairment and functional abilities), behavioral disorders. Caregiver data: socio-demographic characteristics, kinship, duration of caregiving and co-residency with the patient. Caregiver burden assessed by the Zarit interview.


RESULTS
Sixty seven patients (76.8 years (+/-6.2), 53.7% women) and 82% female caregivers were surveyed. Correlation between burden and behavior disorders (p<0.001), dependencies (p=0.003), onset of symptoms (p=0.016) and of caregiving (p<0.001), previous diagnosis (p=0.016) and co-residency (p=0.002) was studied. Cognitive test scores (Mini Mental and CAMCOG) were inversely proportional to distress (p=0.005 and p=0.023). Black caregivers demonstrated lower levels of stress (p=0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
Burden was associated with behavioral disorders, dependencies, cognitive impairment, and onset of symptoms, caregiving and co-residency. Black caregivers demonstrated lower levels of stress.
D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Correlação entre o estresse do cuidador e as características clínicas do paciente portador de demência.