Highlights
- •Caregivers of adults with epilepsy have mild to moderate burden.
- •Sociodemographic data (lower educational attainment, unemployment, economic dependence, lower monthly income values) affected the level of burden.
- •Earlier age onset, polytherapy, and drug-resistance were correlated with burden.
- •Presence of psychiatric comorbidities and patients's disability were associated with high caregiver's burden.
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the relevance of socio-economic background in burden of caregivers of persons
with epilepsy (PWE), there is a dearth of knowledge about this topic in low-resource
settings. Here we attempt to identify the extent of the burden in caregivers of adults
with epilepsy in a middle-income country and the factors associated with it.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the level of burden with the Zarit Caregiver
Burden Inventory. A comprehensive questionnaire was developed to assess the demographics
of patients and caregivers. Epilepsy-related factors were obtained by interview and
file review. Depressive, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality were evaluated by Beck
Depression Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality
Index. Stigma was evaluated by the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy.
Results
The caregiver's burden was mild to moderate in our sample. The factors most strongly
associated with the higher caregiver burden were age-onset of epilepsy, PWE years
of schooling, needs for assistance in daily life, disabilities, and caregiver's bad-quality
of sleep and higher depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Conclusion
Caregivers of PWE deserve special attention regarding mental health and other health
aspects, such as sleep quality.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 21, 2022
Accepted:
March 18,
2022
Received in revised form:
March 16,
2022
Received:
December 22,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
