Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Background: Alzheimer caregivers have an increased fibrin turnover as compared to non-caregiving controls.Many intervention studies have aimed to reduce mental health disorders in caregivers, with little emphasis on physical changes and disease risk.Caregivers are prone to cardiovascular disease due to chronic stress, but few studies have examined their lipid levels.The present study aimed to examine whether having enjoyment in life can improve the lipid profile of caregivers.Methods: This intervention study targeted caregivers of patients with dementia aged ≥65 years.Participants were divided into the intervention group and control group; those in the former group were asked to implement enjoyment in their lives, while those in the latter group continued with their normal lives.The intervention period was 24 weeks.Statistical analysis was performed using two-way analysis of variance.Results: Tests of within-participant effects revealed a significant interaction between triglyceride (TG) and sex [F (1.64, 62.45)=7.36,p=0.003], but no significant interaction was observed for HDL-C or LDL-C.Tests of within-participant comparisons revealed significant interactions between LDL-C and group x sex (P=0.040), and between TG and sex (P=0.02),but no significant interaction was observed for HDL-C.Tests of between-participant effects revealed a significant interaction between HDL-C and sex (P=0.001),but no significant interaction was observed for LDL-C or TG.Pairwise comparisons revealed no significant differences in HDL, LDL, and TG.Discussion: Analyses of the lipid profile of caregivers revealed sex differences in lipid levels.These differences may be related to caregiving burden and lifestyle changes due to unfamiliar caregiving tasks in male caregivers, in addition to the influence of dyslipidemia and progression of cardiovascular disease by sex.Worsening of the lipid profile may be due to chronic stress.The reason for improved HDL-C levels in the control group might be explained by changes in lifestyle.Lifestyle characteristics of caregivers need to be clarified in the future.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the quality of life of caregivers can be improved by conducting further research that takes into account the sex of caregivers, and by clarifying factors that worsen their health status.
Institutions: Shubun University, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya University
Language: English
Topic: Nursing care and research
Subfield: Research and Theory
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W3210135760