1. Impact of Alzheimer's disease on the family caregiver's long-term quality of life: results from an ALSOVA follow-up study.
- Author
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Välimäki TH, Martikainen JA, Hongisto K, Väätäinen S, Sintonen H, and Koivisto AM
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Depressive Disorder psychology, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Alzheimer Disease nursing, Caregivers psychology, Family psychology, Health Status, Quality of Life psychology
- Abstract
Purpose: To examine caregivers' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and well-being during the first 3 years after their family member's Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and assessed the relationship between caregivers' HRQoL, well-being, and the severity of AD. Further, to compare of caregivers' HRQoL to general population., Methods: Longitudinal design (36 months) after AD diagnosis of 236 caregiver-patient dyads. Linear regression was used to assess age- and gender-adjusted association between repeated measurements of caregivers' HRQoL and the severity of AD. For comparison with general population, the National Health 2011 Health Examination Survey data was utilized., Results: Caregivers had significantly lower HRQoL than age- and gender-standardized counterparts. Severity of AD was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the mobility and depression dimensions of caregiver's HRQoL but not with the total HRQoL index score., Conclusions: Caregivers' HRQoL seems to deteriorate earlier than previously noted. The severity of AD has not that great impact on caregiver's HRQoL as assumed.
- Published
- 2016
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