Factors Relating to Family Caregiver Stress that Affect Neuropsychological Status of Elderly Patients
Abstract:
Background: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most powerful predictor of life expectancy in dementia patients, and dementia patients with more functional impairment and psychiatric symptoms reportedly may have a shorter life expectancy. Many studies have reported that factors affecting MMSE in dementia patients involve health conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. However, no study has found that a caregiver's sense of caregiving burden is an independent factor that affects MMSE in dementia patients.
Objective: This study aimed to identify factors that influence MMSE in dementia patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of dementia patients and caregivers was conducted to investigate factors affecting MMSE in dementia patients. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors which predict a lower MMSE.
Results: Caregiver's sense of caregiver burden (ZBI) was identified as a factor that affects MMSE in dementia patients (OR: 1.063, 95%CI: 1.009-1.120). Furthermore, MMSE was correlated with caregiver gender (p=0.001), which in turn was related, albeit non-significantly, to MMSE (p=0.060, OR: 5.592). Discussion: ZBI was the strongest predictor of MMSE in dementia patients. Given the possibility that a caregiver's sense of caregiving burden indirectly affected MMSE, efforts to prevent declines in MMSE due to an increased sense of caregiver burden are important. Furthermore, the sense of caregiver burden will need to be reduced also to maintain and improve the cognitive function of dementia patients. Caregiver gender was identified as a potential predictor of MMSE. Specifically, male caregivers may experience difficulties with balancing work, caregiving, and housework, and may be absent during the day due to work. This could lead to dementia patients spending more time without daytime care, leading to the progression of dementia.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of managing the state of a caregiver’s sense of caregiving burden, which was shown to impact MMSE in dementia patients. Measures to prevent the sense of caregiving burden from worsening are needed. To this end, efforts to provide comprehensive support to improve caregivers' mental health may be effective.
