J Korean Neurol Assoc.  2005 Aug;23(4):463-470.

The Difference of Caregiver Burden in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neurology, Gimhae Hansol Hospital, Gimhae, Korea. neurology@lycos.co.kr
  • 2Department of Social Welfare, Kyung Sung University, Busan, Korea.
  • 3Department of Neurology, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
  • 4Department of Neurology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
  • 5Department of Neurology, Busan Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
  • 6The Institute for East Asian Studies in Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
  • 7Department of Neurology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
  • 8Department of Neurology, Masan Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Masan, Korea.
  • 9Department of Neurology, Masan Taebong Hansol Hospital, Masan, Korea.
  • 10Department of Neurology, Dong-eui Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
  • 11Department of Neurology, Maryknoll Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The burden on caregivers of patients with dementia has an impact on medical, economic, and social areas. However, not enough attention is given to this burden in Korea. There are also very few reports comparing the burden experienced by caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). METHODS: One hundred and forty four Alzheimer's and vascular dementia patients were recruited by nine medical centers in the metropolitan city of Busan and the Gyeongnam province. We evaluated the global dementia state of patients in terms of cognitive functions, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and the activity of daily living along with caregiver burden with the length of care time per day. The Burden Interview, Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), Life Satisfaction Index-Z, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were conducted by face-to-face interviews with the caregivers. We compared the differences of caregiver burden related to the cause of dementia and according to dementia severity. RESULTS: There were 98 AD patients (68.1%) and 46 VD patients (31.9%). There were 89 females (61.8%) and 55 males (38.2%). Most of the global dementia states did not differ between AD and VD except for the Barthel index (p<0.05). Most of the caregiver burden tests were scored worse in VD. The differences of CBI-time dependent burden and CBI-developmental burden were statistically significant in all the patients (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that VD patients have more caregiver burden than AD patients and that the physical activity of daily living influences caregiver burden.

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease; Vascular dementia; Caregiver; Burden

MeSH Terms

Alzheimer Disease*
Anxiety
Busan
Caregivers*
Dementia
Dementia, Vascular*
Depression
Female
Humans
Korea
Male
Motor Activity
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