• Brooke Aggarwal, Ming Liao, Allison Christian, and Lori Mosca.
• Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
• J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Jan 1; 24 (1): 939893-8.

BackgroundFew data have evaluated the relationship between caregiving and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of caregiver strain and to evaluate the association between caregiving and CVD lifestyle and psychosocial risk factors among family members of recently hospitalized CVD patients.Design And ParticipantsParticipants in the NHLBI Family Intervention Trial for Heart Health (FIT Heart) who completed a 6-month follow-up were included in this analysis (n = 263; mean age 50 +/- 14 years, 67% female, 29% non-white).MeasurementsAt 6 months, standardized information was collected regarding depression, social support, and caregiver strain (high caregiver strain = > or =7). Information on lifestyle risk factors, including obesity, physical activity, and diet, were also collected using standardized questionnaires. Logistic regression models on the association between caregiving and CVD risk factors were adjusted for significant confounders.ResultsThe prevalence of serving as a CVD patient's primary caregiver or caring for the patient most of the time was 50% at 6 months. Caregivers (primary/most) were more likely to be women (81% vs 19%, p < .01), married/living with someone (p < .01), >50 years old (p < .01), have < or = high school education (p < .01), be unemployed (p < .01), get less physical activity (p < .01), and have a higher waist circumference (p < .01) than non-caregivers (some/occasional/none). Mean caregiver strain scores were significantly higher among those with depressive symptoms (p < .01) and low social support (p < .01) in a multivariable adjusted model.ConclusionsCaregivers of cardiac patients may be at increased risk themselves for CVD morbidity and mortality compared to non-caregivers due to suboptimal lifestyle and psychosocial risk factors.

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