Mental and Physical Well-Being of Informal Stroke Caregivers Compared With Noncaregiver Family and Friends.

OBJECTIVE

To compare physical/mental health in caregivers and noncaregiver family/friends of stroke survivors within a population-based study.

DESIGN

Study is a cohort study design with data from medical records and interviews.

SETTING

Population-based stroke study in south Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

Stroke survivors and their informal caregivers and noncaregiver family and friends.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Physical/mental health measures included Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8; range, 0-24; higher→worse); Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-10 physical (range, 16.2-67.7) and mental health (range, 21.2-67.6) summary scores (higher→better) at 90 days poststroke.

RESULTS

Compared with noncaregivers (n=360), caregivers (n=320) had lower socioeconomic status, were more likely women, Mexican American, offspring rather than spouse of care recipient, and to reside with a stroke survivor. Median PHQ-8 scores were worse in caregivers (median=4; IQR, 1-8, mild) than noncaregivers (median=2; IQR, 0-5; no depression). Physical (median=47.7; IQR, 39.8-54.1; median=50.8; IQR, 44.9-57.7) and mental health (median=45.8; IQR, 41.1-50.8; median=50.8; IQR, 45.8-56.0) scores were good to very good in caregivers and noncaregivers, respectively. Caregivers had greater depression symptoms (β=1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-2.5) and worse physical (β=-2.2; 95% CI, -4.0 to -0.4) and mental health (β=-3.2; 95% CI, -5.1 to -1.4) than noncaregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical/mental health in caregivers has rarely been compared with those not in the caregiving role. In this study, which controlled for the effect of having a family member or friend with stroke, caregivers had worse physical/mental health than noncaregivers, suggesting that caregiver interventions may improve well-being.