CORRELATION OF DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH MS WITH STRESS AND QUALITY LIFE

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life and stress in a sample of caregivers of patients with multiple sclerosis.
Methods: We included data from 131 caregivers of MS patients (mean age 51.2 ± 12.8 years, males 53.4%). We assessed quality of life using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the care-giving stress with the Kingston Caregiver Stress Scale (KCSS), especially designed for unpaid caregivers.
Results: Caregivers score on KCSS 24.9 ± 9.6.Their SF-36 scores for their physical and mental health were 50.8±9.2 and 42.8±12.2, respectively. In linear regression analysis, caregiver stress was negatively correlated with both physical health status (r = –0.51, 95% CI = –0.67 to –0.35, p < 0.001) and mental health status ( r = –0.49, 95% CI = –0.59 to –0.38 p < 0.001). Caregiver stress was found to be independently associated with other chronic diseases in the family (p = 0.044) and the caregivers҆ professional status (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Caregivers҆ stress was negatively associated with their physical and mental health status. Caregivers stress was independently correlated with other chronic disease in the family and their professional status.