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Mortality, Morbidity and Health-Related Outcomes in Informal Caregivers Compared to Non-Caregivers: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Patrick Janson

    (State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
    Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Kristina Willeke

    (State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
    Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Lisa Zaibert

    (State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 91058 Erlangen, Germany)

  • Andrea Budnick

    (Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10098 Berlin, Germany)

  • Anne Berghöfer

    (Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10098 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sarah Kittel-Schneider

    (Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Peter U. Heuschmann

    (Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
    Clinical Trial Center Würzburg, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Andreas Zapf

    (Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection, 81925 Munich, Germany
    Pettenkofer School of Public Health, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany)

  • Manfred Wildner

    (State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
    Pettenkofer School of Public Health, University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany)

  • Carolin Stupp

    (State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
    Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany)

  • Thomas Keil

    (State Institute of Health, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
    Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
    Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10098 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

A systematic overview of mental and physical disorders of informal caregivers based on population-based studies with good methodological quality is lacking. Therefore, our aim was to systematically summarize mortality, incidence, and prevalence estimates of chronic diseases in informal caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Following PRISMA recommendations, we searched major healthcare databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE and Web of Science) systematically for relevant studies published in the last 10 years (without language restrictions) (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020200314). We included only observational cross-sectional and cohort studies with low risk of bias (risk scores 0–2 out of max 8) that reported the prevalence, incidence, odds ratio (OR), hazard ratio (HR), mean- or sum-scores for health-related outcomes in informal caregivers and non-caregivers. For a thorough methodological quality assessment, we used a validated checklist. The synthesis of the results was conducted by grouping outcomes. We included 22 studies, which came predominately from the USA and Europe. Informal caregivers had a significantly lower mortality than non-caregivers. Regarding chronic morbidity outcomes, the results from a large longitudinal German health-insurance evaluation showed increased and statistically significant incidences of severe stress, adjustment disorders, depression, diseases of the spine and pain conditions among informal caregivers compared to non-caregivers. In cross-sectional evaluations, informal caregiving seemed to be associated with a higher occurrence of depression and of anxiety (ranging from 4 to 51% and 2 to 38%, respectively), pain, hypertension, diabetes and reduced quality of life. Results from our systematic review suggest that informal caregiving may be associated with several mental and physical disorders. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution, as the cross-sectional studies cannot determine temporal relationships. The lower mortality rates compared to non-caregivers may be due to a healthy-carer bias in longitudinal observational studies; however, these and other potential benefits of informal caregiving deserve further attention by researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrick Janson & Kristina Willeke & Lisa Zaibert & Andrea Budnick & Anne Berghöfer & Sarah Kittel-Schneider & Peter U. Heuschmann & Andreas Zapf & Manfred Wildner & Carolin Stupp & Thomas Keil, 2022. "Mortality, Morbidity and Health-Related Outcomes in Informal Caregivers Compared to Non-Caregivers: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-25, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:5864-:d:813477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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