title: Caregiver burden and nonachievement of healthy lifestyle behaviors among family caregivers of cardiovascular disease patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether caregiver burdens are associated with lifestyle behaviors 1 year following the hospitalization of a family member with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow-up study of National Heart Lung and Blood Institute sponsored Family Intervention Trial for Heart Health participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital-based recruitment/baseline visit with 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Family members of hospitalized CVD patients (N  =  423; 67% female; 36% racial/ethnic minority; mean age 49 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic evaluation at 1 year to determine heart-healthy diet (defined as <10% kcal from saturated fat; Block 98 Food Frequency Questionnaire) and physical activity (defined as ≥4 d/wk; Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey) behaviors and caregiver burdens (five domains: employment, financial, physical, social, and time; Caregiver Strain Questionnaire).
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression adjusted for covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart-healthy diet was less frequent among caregivers citing feeling overwhelmed (odds ratio [OR]  =  .50; 95% confidence interval [CI]  =  .26-.97), sleep disturbance (OR  =  .51; 95% CI  =  .27-.96), financial strain (OR  =  .41; 95% CI  =  .20-.86), upsetting behavior (OR  =  .48; 95% CI  =  .25-.92), and/or time demands (OR  =  .47; 95% CI  =  .26-.85) as burdens. Physical activity was less frequent among caregivers reporting financial strain (OR  =  .32; 95% CI  =  .13-.81) or upsetting patient behavior (OR  =  .33; 95% CI  =  .15-.76) as burdens. The most commonly cited caregiver burdens included changes in personal plans (39%), time demands (38%), and sleep disturbance (30%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregiver burdens were associated with nonachievement of heart-healthy diet and physical activity behaviors among family caregivers 1 year after patient discharge. When developing heart-health promotion interventions, caregiver burden should be considered as a possible barrier to prevention among family members of CVD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mochari-Greenberger
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires