Are Disagreements in Caregiver and Patient Assessment of Patient Health Associated with Increased Caregiver Burden in Caregivers of Older Adults with Cancer?

BACKGROUND: As patients age, caregivers increasingly provide essential support and patient information. We sought to determine if patient-caregiver assessments of patient health differ and if differences contribute to burden in caregivers of older adults with cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred patients, aged ≥65, and their caregivers independently assessed patient function, comorbidity, nutrition, social activity, social support, and mental health. Caregivers completed the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI). Patient-caregiver assessments were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired t test. Association between caregiver burden and differences between patient-caregiver assessments was examined using generalized linear regression. RESULTS: Median patient age was 70 (range 65-91) and 70% had advanced disease. Sixty percent of patients reported requiring help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs); most had good social support (median Medical Outcomes Study [MOS]-Social Support Survey score 92) and mental health (median Mental Health Inventory score 85).Caregivers were a median age of 66 (range 28-85), 73% female, 68% spousal caregivers, and 79% lived with the patient. Caregivers rated patients as having poorer physical function (more IADLs dependency [p = .008], lower Karnofsky Performance Status [p = .02], lower MOS-Physical Function [p < .0001]), poorer mental health (p = .0002), and having more social support (p = .03) than patients themselves. Three-quarters of caregivers experienced some caregiver burden (mean CSI score 3.1). Only differences in patient-caregiver assessment of the patient's need for help with IADLs were associated with increased caregiver burden (p = .03). CONCLUSION: Patient-caregiver assessments of patient function, mental health, and social support differ. However, only differences in assessment of IADLs dependency were associated with increased caregiver burden. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: As patients age, there is a higher incidence of frailty and cognitive impairments. As a result, caregivers play an increasingly vital role in providing information about patient health to healthcare providers, which is used to help healthcare providers tailor treatments and optimize patient health. These findings highlight that caregiver reporting in older adults with cancer may not replace patient reporting in those older adults who are otherwise able to self-report. Furthermore, clinicians should check for caregiver burden in caregivers who report providing more help with instrumental activities of daily living than patients themselves report and provide appropriate support as needed.

Factors associated with high burden in caregivers of older adults with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Older adults with cancer are vulnerable to functional decline, which places greater onus on caregivers. Few studies have prospectively examined burden in caregivers of older cancer patients. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with high caregiver burden. METHODS: In total, 100 caregivers of patients aged ≥65 years with cancer, who were recruited at a single institution, completed questionnaires gauging their perception of the patient's physical, emotional, and social health. The association between these items, cancer-related factors, sociodemographic factors, and caregiver burden (measured using the Caregiver Strain Index [CSI]) was determined through multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The median patient age was 70 years (range, 65-91 years), 70% of patients had advanced disease, and 98% were receiving treatment. Caregivers were mostly women (73%), spouses (68%), and lived with the patient (79%). The median amount of care provided was 10 hours per week. The mean CSI score (± standard deviation) was 3.1 ± 3.2. Most caregivers (75%) reported some burden, with 15% reporting high caregiver burden (CSI score, ≥7). In multivariate analysis, employed caregivers (odds ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-18.4; P = .04) and those caring for patients who required more help with instrumental activities of daily living (Older Americans Resources and Services-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living score, <12 of a possible 14; odds ratio, 12.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-62.5; P < .001) were more likely to experience high caregiver burden (CSI score, ≥7). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver burden is common in those who care for older cancer patients. High burden is more likely in employed caregivers and in those who care for patients who require increased functional assistance. Further studies are needed to determine the unique challenges experienced by caregivers of older adults with cancer and potential interventions to alleviate burden in these caregivers.