Limitation of daily activities as predictors of caregiver burden of severe COPD patients

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients need a caregiver or someone in their lives due to the progressive limitation in their activities of daily living.

Objective: The aim was to analyze the relationship between caregiver burden and the limitation of daily activities of care recipients with severe COPD.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. COPD patients were divided into two groups according to caregiver burden measured with Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). The limitation of daily activities of severe COPD patients was evaluated with the London Chest Activity of Daily Living (LCADL), the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0).

Results: Sixty-five patients and their caregivers were included in this study. COPD patients showed significant differences between groups in age (p=0.006), and dyspnea perception (p<0.022). The anxiety and depression of caregivers showed statistical differences between groups (p<0.005), with an increase in the caregiver burden group. The social participation in activities of daily living (WHODAS 2.0) and dyspnea related to functional status (LCADL) were better predictors of caregiver burden compared with the functional independence (FIM) (AUC: 0.739 vs 0.722 vs 0.256).

Conclusion: This study showed that dyspnea related to functional status and social participation in activities of daily living of severe COPD patients can predict caregiver burden. Future studies should consider the prevention of caregiver burden based on individual limitation of daily activities of severe COPD patients.