Keeping vulnerable elderly patients free from pressure ulcer is associated with high caregiver burden in informal caregivers.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of the presence of pressure ulcers on burden of caregivers is unknown. We investigated the relationship between the state of pressure ulcers in vulnerable elderly patients and the burden on their informal caregivers.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study enrolled 137 patients aged > or = 40 years with limited activity and mobility at 10 home care service facilities in Japan. We assessed pressure ulcer status from medical records and caregiver burden using scores from both the Burden Index of Caregivers (BIC) and the Japanese short version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).


RESULTS
Among patients, mean age was 80.9 years, 31.4% were men, and 83.9% were free from pressure ulcers. Multivariable analysis showed that caregivers whose patients were free from pressure ulcers had significantly higher caregiver burden as assessed by both the BIC [beta-coefficient = 3.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-4.95, P = 0.003] and ZBI scores (beta-coefficient = 1.94; 95%CI = 0.30-3.58; P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the continuous effort involved in keeping patients free from pressure ulcers may be associated with high caregiver burden in informal caregivers.
Yamamoto
Yosuke
Y
Department of Epidemiology and Healthcare Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. yamamotoy2@gmail.com
Hayashino
Yasuaki
Y
Higashi
Takahiro
T
Matsui
Miho
M
Yamazaki
Shin
S
Takegami
Misa
M
Miyachi
Yoshiki
Y
Fukuhara
Shunichi
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control*