Objective: This paper investigates the quality of life and strain of caregivers of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Background: Support of caregivers often enables the patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to perform their routine activities. Caregivers can give physical assistance, together with mental and practical support which helps to decrease morbidity and mortality in these patients by improving the quality of life.

Methods: Health related quality of life was measured using EuroQoL (EQ-5D) and a disease-specific Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire-39 Item (PDQ-39), HRQoL was evaluated in a sample of 95 people with PD and their caregivers. Modified Caregiver Strain Index was used to assess the impact of caring on the provider’s health, finances, social interactions, time demands and employment. The study evaluated the association between caregiver and care-recipient HRQoL; caregiver strain and caregiver HRQoL; caregiver strain and care-recipient HRQoL.

Results: A significant correlation was found between HRQoL of people with PD and caregiver strain (r=0.759, p<0.001). There was no statistical significant relationship seen between caregiver and care-recipient HRQoL and also between caregiver strain and caregiver HRQoL.

Conclusions: Caregiver strain was high in PD patients with poor HRQoL. Proper assessment of HRQoL may enable the professionals to develop and plan targeted interventions to reduce the strain of caregivers.

Sent for presentation, but not presented.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/a-study-to-assess-the-quality-of-life-and-strain-in-caregivers-of-people-with-parkinsons-disease-in-india/