Key result
Caregiver mental health and anxiety are directly linked to psychological wellbeing in chronic heart failure patients.
Why the study?
Family caregivers of patients with chronic heart failure may experience physical and mental distress, but this distress in Japan remained unclear.
Cross-Sectional (n=572)
Yes
Effect estimate: β = 0.22
p-value: p=<0.001
Family caregivers of chronic heart failure patients experience significant psychological burden that directly correlates with the patient's own mental distress, underscoring the need for comprehensive palliative care that includes the family unit.
May warrant joint mental health assessment in heart failure dyads; extends dyadic distress models but leaves causal effects open.
Background: Family caregivers (FCs) need to provide regular assistance and good quality care to patients to prevent the deterioration of chronic heart failure (CHF); therefore, they may have physical and mental distress. However, physical and mental distress in FCs of patients with CHF in Japan is unclear. Objective: This study aimed to clarify the quality of life (QoL), anxiety/depression, and associated factors in patients with CHF and their FCs. Design: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire between 2016 and 2017 among patients with CHF and their FCs. Demographic data were extracted from medical records. Health-related QoL and anxiety/depression were assessed using the Short Form-12 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales, respectively. Results: Of 286 patients and FCs (response rate 57.2%), the physical component summary and mental component summary (MCS) scores of FC were higher than those of patients ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.047, respectively). The incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with CHF was 7.0% and 10.8%, respectively, whereas that in FC was 10.1% and 12.6%. In multivariable analysis, the MCS score of FC was associated with the MCS score of patients (β = 0.22, p < 0.001). Anxiety in FC was associated with anxiety (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) in patients, respectively. Conclusions: It is necessary to carefully monitor the physical and mental condition of patients with CHF and provide palliative care in collaboration with the palliative care team as needed. Stabilizing the patient’s physical and mental condition through palliative care may also help alleviate the suffering of FC.
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Niitani et al. (2024) conducted a cross-sectional in Chronic Heart Failure (n=572). Patient psychological distress and QoL was evaluated on Association between family caregiver mental component summary (MCS) score and patient MCS score (β = 0.22, p=<0.001). The mental quality of life and anxiety of family caregivers were significantly associated with the mental quality of life (β = 0.22, p < 0.001) and anxiety (β = 0.30, p < 0.001) of the chronic heart failure patients they care for.
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