title: Keeping vulnerable elderly patients free from pressure ulcer is associated with high caregiver burden in informal caregivers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Healthcare Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. yamamotoy2@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashino
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: Misa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takegami
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.forename: Shunichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
mesh_terms: 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*