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Caregivers feeling strained by their duties for a spouse were more likely to suffer strokes, a study found.
Spousal caregivers who reported being under moderate or severe strain had a 5.1% rate of incident stroke, compared with 2.6% among propensity-matched people who were not caregivers (hazard ratio 1.958, 95% confidence interval 1.002-3.828), , of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues found.
High strain overall among caregivers, regardless of relationships to the family member cared for, showed a nearly identical hazard ratio, but it fell just short of statistical significance (1.963, 95% CI 0.977-3.946).
Lower or no strain didn't correlate with stroke risk, even for spouses, the researchers reported at the meeting in Phoenix.
The researchers suggested there could be a public health implication for targeting stroke prevention efforts to this higher risk group of struggling spouse caregivers. Exactly how this might be done needs further study, Lakkur told ľֱ.
"In the clinic, it might start with a simple conversation," she said in an email. "If the caregiver accompanied the patient to the clinic, the physician could also ask the caregiver how they are doing and remind them to go in for their annual exam. Surveys could also be used to screen for caregiving strain. Broader changes may be necessary, such as workplace policies supporting caregivers and increasing the number and accessibility of caregiver support groups."
The study included 24,232 African-American or white men and women over age 45 and free of prior stroke in the longitudinal REGARDS cohort from 2003-2007, who completed a telephone interview and in-home study examination, followed by phone contact every 6 months and medical record requests for suspected strokes.
Propensity matching was based on age, race, sex, region, relationship status, educational attainment, income, systolic blood pressure, use of antihypertension medications, current smoking status, diabetes, history of heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation, alcohol use, and physical activity level.
Limitations included lack of data on the type of care needed by the recipient and duration of caregiving.
Disclosures
The study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
The researchers disclosed no relevant relationships with industry.
Primary Source
EPI Lifestyle Scientific Sessions
Lakkur S, et al "Family caregiving is associated with increased stroke risk among strained spouse caregivers" EPI 2016; Abstract MP102.