Caregiver Burden Is Associated With the Physical Function of Individuals on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy

Luciana As Jesus; Carla Malaguti; Deborah G Evangelista; Felipe M Azevedo; Brena P França; Larissa T Santos; Maycon M Reboredo; Annemarie L Lee; Laura A Cabral; Leandro F Cabral; Anderson José; Cristino C Oliveira

doi:10.4187/respcare.09619

Caregiver Burden Is Associated With the Physical Function of Individuals on Long-Term Oxygen Therapy

Respir Care. 2022 Nov;67(11):1413-1419. doi: 10.4187/respcare.09619. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Affiliations

¹ Post-Graduate Research Program on Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Function Performance, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
² Post-Graduate Research Program on Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Function Performance, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and School of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
³ Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Home Care, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
⁵ Post-Graduate Research Program on Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Function Performance, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and School of Medicine, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
⁶ Department of Physiotherapy, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia; and Centre for Allied Health Research and Education, Cabrini Health, Malvern, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ School of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
⁸ Post-Graduate Research Program on Rehabilitation Sciences and Physical Function Performance, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil; and Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil. cristinocoli@gmail.com.

PMID: 35764347
DOI: 10.4187/respcare.09619

Abstract

Background: The influence of physical function of individuals on long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) on caregiver burden is underexplored. This study investigated the association of caregiver burden with physical function of individuals on LTOT and the association between caregiver's burden and quality of life.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Informal caregivers were assessed for burden using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), the European Quality of Life 5 Dimension questionnaire index (EQ-5D index) and its Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). Physical function of subjects on LTOT was assessed by dyspnea, activities of daily living (ADLs), and mobility. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were explored.

Results: Fifty-four caregivers (54.7 ± 16.1 y, 74.1% female) were included. CBI total score was correlated with subject's dyspnea (r = 0.369, P = .006) and ADLs (r = 0.300, P = .03). In the multivariate regression models, subject's physical function limitation due to dyspnea explained 26.4% of the CBI total score variance (P = .005). In the CBI dimension analysis, the time-dependence caregiver burden was correlated with subject's dyspnea (r = 0.335, P = .01), ADLs (r = 0.436, P = .001), and mobility (r = -0.415, P = .002). CBI developmental and physical caregiver burden were correlated with dyspnea (r = 0.309, P = .02; r = 0.363, P = .007) and ADLs (r = 0.274, P = .045; r = 0.299, P = .03). Emotional caregiver burden was correlated with dyspnea (r = 0.333, P = .01). Higher CBI total score was correlated with worse quality of life on EQ-5D index (r_s= -0.374, P = .005) and EQ-VAS (r_s= -0.494, P = .001) in caregivers.

Conclusions: Increased caregiver burden was associated with higher physical limitation due to dyspnea and dependence in ADLs of individuals on LTOT. The increased burden was associated with a worse caregiver's quality of life.

Keywords: caregiver burden; caregivers; oxygen inhalation therapy; physical functional performance; quality of life.

MeSH terms

Activities of Daily Living
Caregiver Burden*
Caregivers / psychology
Cost of Illness
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dyspnea / etiology
Dyspnea / therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Oxygen
Quality of Life* / psychology

Substances

Oxygen