Talk Description
234R - Research Paper
Abstract:
Aim:
We examined factors associated with the QoL of caregivers across different stages of CKD and investigated the relationship between the QoL of caregivers and severity of kidney disease.
Method:
A cross sectional study was performed among adult patients with CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2) and their caregivers recruited from the renal clinic of a large tertiary referral hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were collected from medical records. Caregivers completed the Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire, which measures QoL in eight separate domains with possible scores ranging from 0 to 15 with higher values indicating better QoL. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with low QoL among caregivers.
Results:
A total of 278 dyads of caregivers and patients with CKD were studied. The mean age (SD) of caregivers and patients was 56.6 (15.2) and 63.7 (15.3) years respectively. Mean QoL scores for caregivers across the 8 domains ranged from 8.1 to11.7 and the overall QoL score was 80.7 (19.2). Female gender of caregivers and patients, longer caregiving time, diagnosis of diabetes and lower socioeconomic status of patients were all associated with lower scores in one or more domains.
Conclusion:
In caregivers of patients with CKD, female gender of both caregivers and patients, longer caregiving time, lower socioeconomic status and a diagnosis of diabetes among patients were independently associated with low QoL. An understanding of these factors provides insight into the development of targeted interventions to improve QoL of caregivers.
Abstract:
Aim:
We examined factors associated with the QoL of caregivers across different stages of CKD and investigated the relationship between the QoL of caregivers and severity of kidney disease.
Method:
A cross sectional study was performed among adult patients with CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2) and their caregivers recruited from the renal clinic of a large tertiary referral hospital. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were collected from medical records. Caregivers completed the Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire, which measures QoL in eight separate domains with possible scores ranging from 0 to 15 with higher values indicating better QoL. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with low QoL among caregivers.
Results:
A total of 278 dyads of caregivers and patients with CKD were studied. The mean age (SD) of caregivers and patients was 56.6 (15.2) and 63.7 (15.3) years respectively. Mean QoL scores for caregivers across the 8 domains ranged from 8.1 to11.7 and the overall QoL score was 80.7 (19.2). Female gender of caregivers and patients, longer caregiving time, diagnosis of diabetes and lower socioeconomic status of patients were all associated with lower scores in one or more domains.
Conclusion:
In caregivers of patients with CKD, female gender of both caregivers and patients, longer caregiving time, lower socioeconomic status and a diagnosis of diabetes among patients were independently associated with low QoL. An understanding of these factors provides insight into the development of targeted interventions to improve QoL of caregivers.