[Caregiver burden and social support perceived by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Sobrecarga del cuidador y apoyo social percibido por pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC).

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the psycho-emotional state of the primary caregiver, the burden of the usual care in patients with exacerbations of COPD and perceived social support on the part of the patient. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included patients and caregivers who came for a specific visit to the COPD clinic of the Chest Diseases Department the Regional Hospital of Malaga. A total of 151 patients with severe/very severe COPD according to the functional classification of severity by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and 96 caregivers were followed-up over a year. The Zarit burden scale (caregiver burden interview) was used, as well as the Duke-UNC questionnaire, validated in Spanish to determine the burden of the caregiver and the social support as perceived by the patient, respectively. The demographic variables recorded were, sex, age, population, cohabitation, relationship and work activity. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 66.1 ± 9 years versus their caregivers 60.2 ± 11.5 years. All of the patients, of whom 88.1% were males, were occupationally inactive. The large majority (76.8%) were living with a caregiver, generally a wife or daughter. The social support was perceived as normal by 79.5%, and 19% perceived the social support as low. No burden or mild burden was reported by 79.2% with the Zarit questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of the patients, as well as their primary caregivers, was over 60 years of age. The score on perceived social support showed normal values, except for patients who live alone in rural areas. The Zarit questionnaire gave results of mild or no burden. There was no statistically significant correlation between the Zarit questionnaire and the patient health status, rural or urban area, relationship, or age of the caregiver.

Sobrecarga del cuidador y apoyo social percibido por pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) / Caregiver burden and social support perceived by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objetivos: Analizar el estado psicoemocional del cuidador principal, la sobrecarga en los cuidados habituales de pacientes con exacerbaciones de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) y el apoyo social percibido por el paciente. Material y métodos: Pacientes y cuidadores procedían de la consulta específica de EPOC del Servicio de Neumología del Hospital Regional de Málaga. Ciento cincuenta y un pacientes en estadio severo/muy severo según la clasificación funcional de severidad Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease ([GOLD] o iniciativa global para la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica) y 96 cuidadores fueron estudiados durante un año. Se usó la escala de sobrecarga de Zarit (Caregiver burden interview) y el cuestionario de Duke-unc, validados en español, para conocer la sobrecarga del cuidador y el apoyo social percibido por el paciente, respectivamente. Variables demográficas: sexo, edad, población, convivencia, parentesco y actividad laboral. Resultados: La edad media de los pacientes fue de 66,1 ± 9 años y la de los cuidadores de 60,2 ± 11,5 años. Todos los pacientes se encontraban en situación laboral de inactividad, y el 88,1% eran varones. El 76,8% convivía con un cuidador principal, generalmente esposa o hija. El 79,5% de apoyo social percibido era normal (19% percepción de apoyo bajo) y el 79,2% refería sobrecarga leve. Conclusiones: La edad de los pacientes y cuidadores principales estudiados superan los 60 años. La puntuación obtenida sobre el apoyo social percibido refiere valores de normalidad, excepto en los pacientes que viven solos en el ámbito rural. La puntuación en el cuestionario de Zarit alcanza valores de no sobrecarga o sobrecarga leve, sin hallar correlación estadísticamente significativa con el estado de salud del paciente, el medio al que pertenece, la relación de parentesco ni la edad del cuidador (AU)

Objectives: To analyse the psycho-emotional state of the primary caregiver, the burden of the usual care in patients with exacerbations of COPD and perceived social support on the part of the patient. Material and methods: The study included patients and caregivers who came for a specific visit to the COPD clinic of the Chest Diseases Department the Regional Hospital of Malaga. A total of 151 patients with severe/very severe COPD according to the functional classification of severity by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and 96 caregivers were followed-up over a year. The Zarit burden scale (caregiver burden interview) was used, as well as the Duke-UNC questionnaire, validated in Spanish to determine the burden of the caregiver and the social support as perceived by the patient, respectively. The demographic variables recorded were, sex, age, population, cohabitation, relationship and work activity. Results: The mean age of patients was 66.1 ± 9 years versus their caregivers 60.2 ± 11.5 years. All of the patients, of whom 88.1% were males, were occupationally inactive. The large majority (76.8%) were living with a caregiver, generally a wife or daughter. The social support was perceived as normal by 79.5%, and 19% perceived the social support as low. No burden or mild burden was reported by 79.2% with the Zarit questionnaire. Conclusions: The mean age of the patients, as well as their primary caregivers, was over 60 years of age. The score on perceived social support showed normal values, except for patients who live alone in rural areas. The Zarit questionnaire gave results of mild or no burden. There was no statistically significant correlation between the Zarit questionnaire and the patient health status, rural or urban area, relationship, or age of the caregiver (AU)