title: Caring for relatives with lung cancer in Europe: an evaluation of caregivers' experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Informal caregiving for cancer patients is associated with substantial costs and negative health impact. This study investigated the health, humanistic and economic consequences of caring for lung cancer patients in five European Union (EU) countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included respondents to the 2010/2011 EU National Health and Wellness Survey from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom who self-reported being caregivers of a relative with lung cancer (n = 107) or non-caregivers (n = 103,868). Bivariate and multivariable analyses tested the association of caregiving with stress-related comorbidities; health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using the Short Form-12; healthcare resource use; and work productivity/activity impairment, using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Costs were based on absenteeism and presenteeism rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caregivers versus non-caregivers had significantly higher odds of depression, insomnia, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms, and worse HRQoL. Caregivers reported significantly higher rates of presenteeism-related, overall work and activity impairment; higher odds of impairment across WPAI measures; and higher annual indirect costs with presenteeism and overall work impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregiving for lung cancer patients is associated with significant health/work impairments and costs, highlighting a need for increased, personalized caregiver support.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jassem
authors.affiliation: Global Health Economics and Outcomes, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Penrod
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes Practice, Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Kantar Health, 11 Madison Ave, Fl 12, New York, NY, 10010, USA. Amir.Goren@kantarhealth.com.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goren
authors.affiliation: Global Health Economics and Outcomes, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gilloteau
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Caregivers; Health-related quality of life; Lung cancer; Work Productivity and Activity Impairment