THE IMPACT OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE ON CAREGIVERS IN JAPAN
Method(s): Data were from the 2012 National Health and Wellness Survey in Japan (n= 30,000). Caregivers for adult relatives with AD or dementia were compared with non-caregivers on various health outcome measures: Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI), SF-36v2-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and healthcare resource utilization. Sociodemographic characteristics, health characteristics and behaviours, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores were compared between caregivers and non-caregivers.
Result(s) : Among 28,416 respondents (714 caregivers; 27,702 non-caregivers),caregivers were older than non-caregivers (52.5 vs 47.3 years respectively), more frequently female (53% vs. 50%), married/partnered (70% vs. 63%), alcohol drinkers (44% vs. 39%), with higher CCI scores (0.4 vs. 0.1, or 20% vs. 11% having CCI ≥ 1), and less likely to be employed (53% vs. 58%), all p<.05. Adjusting for covariates (age brackets, gender, marital status, CCI, insurance, income, and education), caregivers experienced significantly higher odds of depression (62%, p<.001), anxiety (90%, p=.033), insomnia (60%, p=.001), and pain (52%, p<.001). Caregivers vs. non-caregivers experienced lower health utilities (-0.031 points, p<.001), and lower HRQoL [PCS (-1.11, p<.001), and MCS (-2.34 points, p<.001)]. Caregivers vs. non-caregivers reported higher rates of work impairment (16% greater, p=.033) among those who were employed, as well as greater activity impairment (23% higher, p<.001). Caregivers vs. non-caregivers reported higher rates of healthcare provider visits (42% greater, p<.001) and ER visits (140% greater, p=.009), but hospital visits were not significantly greater with caregiving.
Conclusion(s): Those providing care for patients with dementia due to AD in Japan experience a broad range of care-related burden (physical, psychological, social, and financial), with relatively poorer health status and greater comorbid risk, greater productivity impairment, and higher rates of healthcare resource use.