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The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Advance Access published online on April 7, 2009
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, doi:10.1093/gerona/glp034
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org.

Impact of Caregiving on Health and Quality of Life: A Comparative Population-Based Study of Caregivers for Elderly Persons and Noncaregivers

Suzanne C. Ho1, Alfred Chan2, Jean Woo3, Portia Chong1 and Aprille Sham1

1 Department of Community and Family Medicine, Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health, School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, People's Republic of China
2 Department of Politics and Sociology, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
3 Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China

Suzanne C. Ho, MPH, PhD, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health, School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, 4/F, Shatin N.T., Hong Kong. Email: suzanneho{at}cuhk.edu.hk


  Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of caregiving on the health status and quality of life (QOL) of primary informal caregivers (PCGs) of elderly care recipients in Hong Kong. A total of 246 PCGs and 492 matched noncaregiver (NCG) controls were identified in a population-based cross-sectional study through random telephone dialing. Their health status and QOL were assessed based on structured questionnaires and Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. Multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that compared with NCGs, PCGs had significantly increased risks for reporting worse health, more doctor visits, anxiety and depression, and weight loss. Female PCGs were more likely to report chronic diseases, symptoms, and insomnia. PCGs, particularly women, had significantly lower scores in all eight domains of SF-36 Health Survey. High caregiver burden score (Zarit Burden Scale) was positively associated with adverse physical and psychological health and poorer QOL. The results indicate that PCGs, particularly women, had an adverse physical and psychological health profile and poorer QOL compared with NCGs.

Keywords Caregiver; Caregiver burden; Elderly care recipients

Received: August 26, 2008; Accepted: February 12, 2009

Decision Editor: Darryl Wieland, PhD, MPH


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