Burden among stroke caregivers: results of a community-based study from Kolkata, India.
OBJECTIVE
Stroke causes significant caregiver (CG) stress, which is under-reported in India. This study assesses the financial, physical, psychological, and family burden on CG of stroke patients in an urban community.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey of stroke patients and CG were selected from a community-based registry using validated scales through face-to-face interviews.


RESULTS
Data were available from 199 stroke survivors and a similar number of CG. Increased workload, related anxiety and depression, and sleep disturbance were reported by 70%, 76%, and 43% of CG, respectively, whereas >80% reported financial worry, which was greater among slum dwellers and less educated families. CG of patients with dementia and depression experienced greater stress. Female CG received more appreciation and family bonding was well-maintained.


CONCLUSIONS
Financial stress was prominent and common among the socioeconomically weaker section. Psychological stress is similar to that of other studies. Women CG received greater appreciation. Family bonding was well-preserved in contrast to that of a western report.
Department of Neurology, Bangur Institute of Neuroscience, Kolkata 700025, India. das_sk70@hotmail.com
Sujata
S
Das
Avijit
A
Hazra
Biman Kanti
BK
Ray
Malay
M
Ghosal
Tapas Kumar
TK
Banerjee
Trishit
T
Roy
Arijit
A
Chaudhuri
Deepak K
DK
Raut
Shyamal Kumar
SK
Das
D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors; D016526:Workload