title: [Caregiver burden and social support perceived by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the psycho-emotional state of the primary caregiver, the burden of the usual care in patients with exacerbations of COPD and perceived social support on the part of the patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included patients and caregivers who came for a specific visit to the COPD clinic of the Chest Diseases Department the Regional Hospital of Malaga. A total of 151 patients with severe/very severe COPD according to the functional classification of severity by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and 96 caregivers were followed-up over a year. The Zarit burden scale (caregiver burden interview) was used, as well as the Duke-UNC questionnaire, validated in Spanish to determine the burden of the caregiver and the social support as perceived by the patient, respectively. The demographic variables recorded were, sex, age, population, cohabitation, relationship and work activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 66.1 ± 9 years versus their caregivers 60.2 ± 11.5 years. All of the patients, of whom 88.1% were males, were occupationally inactive. The large majority (76.8%) were living with a caregiver, generally a wife or daughter. The social support was perceived as normal by 79.5%, and 19% perceived the social support as low. No burden or mild burden was reported by 79.2% with the Zarit questionnaire.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean age of the patients, as well as their primary caregivers, was over 60 years of age. The score on perceived social support showed normal values, except for patients who live alone in rural areas. The Zarit questionnaire gave results of mild or no burden. There was no statistically significant correlation between the Zarit questionnaire and the patient health status, rural or urban area, relationship, or age of the caregiver.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Rehabilitación (UGC) y Medicina Física, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Godoy-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Rehabilitación (UGC) y Medicina Física, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España. Electronic address: drmangel.perez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M Á
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Pérez-Verdún
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doménech-del Rio
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Málaga, España.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Prunera-Pardell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Apoyo social; Caregiver; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Cuidador; Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica; Factores psicológicos; Psychology; Social support