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Table 1 Caregiver and care-receiver characteristics at baseline and follow-up (16 months)

From: Health and frailty among older spousal caregivers: an observational cohort study in Belgium

 

Baseline

Follow-up

P-value

Caregiver

N = 78

N = 78

 

 Sex, female, n (%)

42 (53.8)

42 (53.8)

 

 Age, years, median [P25-P75]

80.0 [77.0–85.0]

81.0 [78.0–86.0]

 

 Risk of depressiona, n (%)

25 (32.1)

23 (29.5)

0.84

 Use of anti-depressive medication, n (%)

20 (25.6)

21 (26.9)

1.00

 Use of anxiolytic medication, n (%)

20 (25.6)

30 (38.5)

0.03

 Burdenb, median [P25-P75]

33.0 [23.3–42.8]

29.0 [22.5–39.0]

0.72

 High self-esteem c, n (%)

36 (70.6)

38 (74.5)

0.66

 Number of medications, median [P25-P75]

3.0 [2.0–5.0]

4.5 [2.0–7.0]

< 0.01

 SPPBd, median [P25-P75]

9.0[6.0–10.3]

9.0 [7.0–10.3]

0.55

 Frailty (Fried), median [P25-P75]

1.0[0.0–2.0]

1.0 [1.0–2.0]

0.02

 Nutrition (MNAd), median [P25-P75]

12.0 [10.0–14.0]

12 [10.8–13.3]

0.38

 Cognitione, n (%)

40 (51.3)

48 (61.5)

0.14

Care-receiver

N = 51

N = 51

 

 Katz index-24, median [P25-P75]

14 [8.0–17.0]

14 [8.5–18.0]

< 0.01

 Global deterioration scale, median [P25-P75]

4 [3–5]

4 [3–5]

< 0.01

 Neuropsychiatric Index, median [P25-P75]

13 [8–23]

19 [11–24]

0.01

  1. Caregivers’ variables: a GDS > 5/15, b Zarit Burden Interview-22 (N = 51), c Caregiver Reaction Assessment-self-esteem dimension, d Short Physical Performance Battery, d Mini Nutritional Assessment-14, e pathologic clock drawing test
  2. All analyses were performed with the available data of the 78 followed caregivers and 51 care-receivers still living at home at follow-up. Burden and self-esteem were assessed among the 51 caregivers still giving care at follow-up
  3. Regarding the care-receiver, small but statistically significant changes were observed, all consistent with a degradation of health. Wilcoxon signed rank test with continuity correction, McNemar’s chi-squared test with continuity correction