Sociodemographic and Clinical Variables Related to the Overburden of the Informal Caregivers of Patients Hospitalized for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flowchart showing the inclusion of patients in this study.

Table 1 Demographic, Clinical, and Social Variables of the COPD Patients That Had Informal Caregivers and a Comparison According to Whether These Carers Presented Overburden

Characteristics of the Patients	Total (91)	Caregivers without Overburden N = 28	Caregivers with Overburden N = 63	P^#
Male (sex)^a	80 (89.7%)	23 (82.1%)	57 (90.5%)	0.30
Age (years)^b	72.6 ± 8.7	70.8 ± 8.1	73.6 ± 8.9	0.12
BMI (kg/m^2)^b	28.3 ± 6.3	28.6 ± 7.1	28.2 ± 6.1	0.71
Active smoker^a	23 (25.3)	9 (32.2)	14 (22.4)	0.42
Number of admissions in the previous year^b	1.01 ± 1.3	0.6 ± 0.6	1.1 ± 1.5	0.04
≥ 2 admissions within the previous year^a	25 (27.5)	3 (10.7)	22 (34.9)	0.02
Positive sputum culture within 12 months prior to admission^a	24 (26.7)	6 (21.4)	18 (29.0)	0.60
CAT score^b	21.0 ± 7.3	20.0 ± 7.5	21.4 ± 7.2	0.30
Dyspnea (mMRC)^b	2.5 ± 0.8	2.1 ± 0.8	2.7 ± 0.8	0.003
Dyspnea 3–4 (mMRC)^a	52 (57.1)	9 (32.1)	43 (68.3)	0.002
FEV1 value (% reference)^b	39.5 ± 13.2	40.6 ± 12.4	39.1 ± 13.7	0.53
FEV1 value (mL)^b	1040.4 ± 453.3	1047.6 ± 435.7	1037.5 ± 464.9	0.91
Charlson´s index^b	1.8 ± 0.9	1.8 ± 1.0	1.7 ± 0.9	0.5
Goldberg´s questionnaire (total)^b	6.4 ± 4.0	5.7 ± 4.0	6.7 ± 4.0	0.21
Goldberg´s depression^a	49 (54.4)	10 (35.7)	39 (62.9)	0.02
Goldberg´s anxiety^a	44 (48.9)	12 (42.9)	32 (51.6)	0.41
At-home oxygen therapy^a	52 (57.8)	15 (50.0)	38 (61.3)	0.36
Primary studies^a	80 (87.9)	25 (89.3)	55 (87.3)	0.99
Rural area of residence^a	48 (52.7)	18 (64.3)	30 (47.6)	0.17
Monthly income < 800 €^a	42 (46.7)	14 (51.0)	28 (44.4)	0.65
Does not have own transport^a	70 (76.9)	19 (67.9)	51 (81.0)	0.18
Previous use of social services resources^a	15 (16.5)	1 (3.6)	14 (22.2)	0.03
Barthel´s questionnaire^b	78.1 ± 19.8	84.3 ± 16.9	75.2 ± 20.5	0.004
Dependency for basic activities (Barthel questionnaire)^a	70 (76.9)	18 (64.3)	52 (82.5)	0.05
Lawton & Brody questionnaire^b	3.4 ± 2.3	4.43 ± 2.3	3.1 ± 2.2	0.01
Dependency for instrumental activities (Lawton &Brody questionnaire)^a	85 (93.4)	24 (85.7)	61 (96.8)	0.05
Gijón´s socio-familiar questionnaire^b	10.1 ± 2.1	9.1 ± 2.2	10.2 ± 1.8	0.01
Risk/problem according to Gijón´s socio-familial questionnaire^a	53 (58.2)	13 (46.4)	40 (63.5)	0.10

Notes: ^aExpressed by their total number and their % in parentheses.^bExpressed as mean ± standard deviation. ^#The p-value refers to the comparison of the frequency or value of this variable in each of the groups.

Abbreviations: CAT, COPD Assessment Test; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in the first second; BMI, body mass index; mMRC, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale.

Table 2 Result of the Logistic Regression Analysis of the COPD Patient Variables Related to Caregiver Burden

Variable	Adjusted OR (IC 95%)	P
Male sex	1.9 (0.38–9.4)	0.42
Age	1.03 (0.96–1.1)	0.39
≥ 2 hospital admissions within the previous year	4.5 (1.1–18.3)	0.03
Dyspnea 3–4 (mMRC)	4.7 (1.7–13.2)	0.003
Goldberg´s depression	2.2 (0.7–6.8)	0.14
Previous use of social services resources	8.1 (1.03–69.9)	0.04
Dependency for basic activities (Barthel questionnaire)	0.94 (0.24–3.6)	0.93
Dependency for instrumental activities (Lawton&Brody questionnaire)	2.6 (0.2–28.9)	0.42

Abbreviation: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.