Factors related to perceived quality of life in patients with Alzheimer's disease: the patient's perception compared with that of caregivers

✍ Scribed by Josep Lluís Conde-Sala; Josep Garre-Olmo; Oriol Turró-Garriga; Secundino López-Pousa; Joan Vilalta-Franch

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 103 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-6230
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.2161

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Aims

To compare care recipient and caregiver perceptions of quality of life in patients (QoL‐p) with Alzheimer's disease (AD). To identify associated factors, and the concordances‐discrepancies.

Method

Cross‐sectional analytic study of 236 patients and their carers using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL‐AD) scale, socio‐demographic data and clinical examination.

Results

Patients scored the QoL‐AD more favourably than did caregivers (34.4 vs 31.3, p < 0.001). Cognitive deterioration did not affect the perception of QoL‐AD (rho = −0.05, p = 0.394). The neuropsychiatric symptoms was associated with a negative perception of the QOL‐AD in both patients (rho = −0.22, p < 0.01) and caregivers (rho = −0.47, p < 0.001). Greater functional autonomy was associated with a better perception of the QOL‐AD in patients (rho = 0.17, p < 0.01) and even more so in caregivers (rho = 0.56, p < 0.001). In carers, burden (rho = −0.56, p < 0.001) and mental health (rho = 0.31, p < 0.001) were inversely associated with the QoL‐AD. QoL‐AD scores of both patients and caregivers were higher for men, married subjects, those who lived with their spouse and those living in their own home. When the carer was a spouse both patients and caregivers scored the QoL‐AD higher than when the carer was a son or daughter (35.5 vs 33.4 and 33.7; 32.9 vs 30.5 and 27.7, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Patients have a better perception of QoL‐p. Caregivers give a more negative evaluation of neuropsychiatric symptoms, but have a more positive view of functional autonomy. Carers who are spouses have a better perception of QoL‐p than do carers who are sons or daughters. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.