Aged Caregivers in COVID-19: Geriatric Depression and Anxiety Prevalence Related to Psychosocial Characteristics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24265/Palavras-chave:
COVID-19, cuidadores idosos, depressão geriátrica, ansiedade, características psicossociaisResumo
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected aged family caregivers’ access to support resources, increasing the burden of care due to psychological distress. Objective: To describe the prevalence of geriatric depression and anxiety in older adult family caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with psychosocial characteristics. Method: Cross-sectional study including 180 family caregivers replying to an online sociodemographic data questionnaire, GAD-7 and GDS-VE scales. Results: Caregivers’ median age was 66 years, 81% female, 71% employed, 57% parents or brothers/sisters and lived with the relative. The prevalence of geriatric depression and anxiety was 46% and 71%, respectively. Anxiety levels were associated with cohabitation with the patient (OR 2.44). A trend between female sex and the presence of anxiety (OR 2.41) was observed. An association was also found between cohabitation with the patient and depression (OR 1.92). Cohabitation with the patient significantly increased the risk of depression (OR 2.22). Conclusions: Cohabitation with the patient was associated with depression and onset of anxiety symptoms, remarkably in femalcaregivers.
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