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Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the study population

From: Cognitive behavioral therapy versus general health education for family caregivers of individuals with heart failure: a pilot randomized controlled trial

 

Patients

p-value

Family caregivers

p-value

GHE group (N = 12)

CBT group (N = 14)

GHE group (N = 12)

CBT group (N = 14)

Age (in years)

67.41 ± 17.14

66.54 ± 11.33

.88

54.46 ± 17.61

55.62 ± 13.54

.85

Female

9 (75.0)

5 (35.7)

.045

4 (33.3)

10 (71.4)

.052

Non-Hispanic white

7 (58.3)

2 (14.3)

.04

6 (50.0)

4 (28.6)

.42

Married or cohabitating

8 (66.7)

11 (78.6)

.67

6 (50.0)

12 (85.7)

.09

Education level

  

.07

  

.70

  ≤ High school

3 (25.0)

9 (64.3)

 

4 (33.3)

6 (42.9)

 

Household income

  

.85

  

.51

  < $20,000/year

3 (25.0)

3 (21.4)

 

3 (25.0)

2 (14.3)

 

  ≥ $20,000/year

5 (41.7)

8 (57.1)

 

5 (41.7)

9 (64.3)

 

 Decline to state

4 (33.3)

3 (21.4)

 

4 (33.3)

3 (21.4)

 

Employed

1 (8.3)

3 (21.4)

.60

3 (25.0)

7 (50.0)

.25

NYHA class

  

.40

   

 II

6 (50.0)

6 (42.9)

    

 III

6 (50.0)

6 (42.9)

    

 IV

0 (0.0)

2 (14.3)

    

Charlson comorbidity index score

3.75 ± 2.01

3.57 ± 1.91

.94

   

Spouse of patient

   

6 (50.0)

9 (64.3)

.46

Living with patient

   

11 (91.7)

12 (85.7)

1.00

Sharing caregiver role with others

   

5 (41.7)

10 (71.4)

.13

Duration of caregiving (in months)

   

57.55 ± 56.48

48.43 ± 68.79

.73

Hours of caregiving per week

   

2.08 ± 0.90

3.00 ± 1.11

.03

Salivary cortisol

 Cortisol awakening responsea

   

0.119 ± 0.221

0.098 ± 0.282

.85

 Area under the curveb

   

2096.3 ± 267.7

1978.6 ± 244.9

.31

Psychological measuresc

 Caregiver burden (ZBI)

   

12.58 ± 7.35

13.43 ± 10.32

.82

 Perceived stress (PSS-10)

   

15.83 ± 6.71

17.00 ± 7.93

.69

 Stress symptoms (cSOSI)

   

35.83 ± 34.32

42.86 ± 40.02

.64

 Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9)

10.36 ± 7.12

7.79 ± 4.90

.30

5.75 ± 6.38

7.50 ± 7.10

.52

 Clinical depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10)

5 (41.67)

6 (42.9)

1.00

3 (25.0)

4 (28.6)

1.00

 Anxiety (GAD-7)

   

4.92 ± 5.60

6.36 ± 6.05

.54

  1. Note. Continuous variables are reported as mean ± SD. Categorical variables are reported as number (percentage) of patients or caregivers
  2. CBT cognitive behavioral therapy, cSOSI Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory, GHE general health education, GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item, NYHA New York Heart Association, PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire 9-items, PSS-10 10-item Perceived Stress Scale, ZBI Zarit Burden Interview
  3. aThe cortisol awakening responses was computed as the difference in log-transformed cortisol values from waking to 30 min post-awakening
  4. bThe area under the curve was computed using log-transformed cortisol values. The bedtime cortisol value was not available for 1 caregiver (GHE group) at baseline
  5. cHigher scores indicate worse outcomes