title: Burden and Depression in Caregivers of Blind Patients in New York State.
abstract: To describe the degree of burden of care and the proportion at risk of depression among individuals caring for legally blind patients.
  
  
  
  We performed a cross-sectional study of 486 individuals providing care to their family members who were legally blind. Best-corrected visual acuity of the better-seeing eye in patients determined group placement: Group 1, 20/200-10/200; group 2, 10/200 to light perception (LP); group 3, no light perception (NLP); group VF, visual field loss to <20 central degrees. Burden was evaluated using the Burden Index of Caregivers (BIC-11) and the prevalence at risk of depression was determined by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale.
  
  
  
  Total mean BIC-11 scores ranged from 8.78 ± 4.82 (group 1) to 12.03 ± 5.22 (group 3; p = 0.04). Daily hours spent on close supervision, intensity of caregiving and presence of multiple chronic illnesses in caregivers were the significant covariates affecting BIC-11 scores (p < 0.05). The prevalence of caregivers at risk of depression increased with vision loss from 6.9% (group 1) to 17.9% (group 3; p < 0.05). Female caregivers had an odds ratio (OR) of 2.89 for depression (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.07-3.97; p = 0.04). Caregivers with ≥2 comorbidities had OR 4.24 (95% CI 2.41-6.11) for risk of depression (p < 0.01).
  
  
  
  Burden of care was highest among caregivers who provided greater hours of supervision. Patients with more limitations in their activities of daily living had caregivers who reported higher burden. Female caregivers and caregivers with multiple chronic illnesses were at higher risk of depression.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Virginia Commonwealth University , Richmond , VA , USA.
authors.forename: Puneet S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Braich
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , SUNY Upstate Medical University , Syracuse , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine , SUNY Upstate Medical University , Syracuse , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Knohl
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ophthalmology , Albany Medical College , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Devang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhoiwala
authors.affiliation: c Department of Ophthalmology , Albany Medical College , Albany , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Sai B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Gandham
authors.affiliation: d Department of Ophthalmology , University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: American population; US population; blind patients; care burden; depression