title: Contributory Factors to Caregiver Burden in Parkinson Disease.
abstract: In Parkinson disease (PD), patients often require burdensome assistance, delivered by informal caregivers (eg, spouse).
  
  
  
  Prospective questionnaire and clinical-based investigation.
  
  
  
  To investigate both patient- and caregiver-derived factors contributing to caregiver burden (CB).
  
  
  
  We assessed, in 59 patient-caregiver pairs, various motor, nonmotor, and cognitive symptoms as well as quality of life by standardized tests and questionnaires. Repercussions on the caregiver were evaluated by Zarit Burden Interview, Health-related Quality of Life (HrQoL), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Transcultural comparison was ensured by validation of the tests in the 3 used languages.
  
  
  
  Sleep problems and autonomic dysfunction of the patient strongly impact CB (r = -0.414 to -0.335, P < .01) and HrQoL of the caregiver (r = -0.335 to -0.314, P < .05). Higher CB is less strongly linked with patient's motor impairment (P < .05). Large time investment, including nocturnal care in 41% of the caregivers, strongly influences CB (P < .001). The mood, but not the cognitive status, of the caregiver is directly linked to CB and HrQoL of the caregiver (P < .01).
  
  
  
  In PD, the CB is primarily dependent on patients' nonmotor symptoms. Patient care requires considerable time investment and can trigger depression in the caregiver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, G.D. of Luxembourg; Competence Center of Methodology and Statistics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, G.D. of Luxembourg. Electronic address: danielgruen@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grün
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, G.D. of Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Vannina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pieri
authors.affiliation: Competence Center of Methodology and Statistics, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg, G.D. of Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaillant
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg, G.D. of Luxembourg; Faculty of Medicine, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Nico J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Diederich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Parkinson disease; caregiver burden; motor symptoms; nonmotor symptoms; sleep