Baumgarten M, Battista R N, Infante-Rivard C, Hanley J A, Becker R, Gauthier S
St Justine Community Health Department, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
J Clin Epidemiol. 1992 Jan;45(1):61-70. doi: 10.1016/0895-4356(92)90189-t.
Most elderly persons with dementia are cared for at home, usually by the spouse or an adult child. The objective of the present study was to determine whether there is an excess of psychological and physical health problems among family caregivers (CGs) of elderly persons with dementia. Data were obtained by interview from close family members of dementia patients (CGs), and from a comparison group made up of close family members of patients undergoing cataract surgery (non-caregivers, NCGs). CGs had significantly higher levels of depression and physical symptoms than NCGs. The association between caregiving and the health variables was stronger among subjects who were the patient's spouse than among those who were the patient's child. Furthermore, greater behavioral disturbance in the demented patient was associated with higher levels of morbidity in the CG. The results suggest that CGs might benefit from careful monitoring of their health status, and from greater access to specialized support services.
大多数患有痴呆症的老年人在家中接受照料，通常由配偶或成年子女负责。本研究的目的是确定痴呆症老年人的家庭照料者（CGs）是否存在过多的心理和身体健康问题。数据通过访谈痴呆症患者的近亲家庭成员（CGs）以及由接受白内障手术患者的近亲家庭成员组成的对照组（非照料者，NCGs）获得。CGs的抑郁水平和身体症状显著高于NCGs。与患者为子女的照料者相比，患者配偶作为照料者时，照料与健康变量之间的关联更强。此外，痴呆症患者的行为障碍越严重，CGs的发病率越高。结果表明，CGs可能会从对其健康状况的密切监测以及更多地获得专业支持服务中受益。
