Fatores Associados À Sobrecarga Em Cuidadores Familiares De Pessoas Idosas Nonagenárias

Abstract

Introduction: Family care for elderly people aged 90 and over involves increasing physical, emotional, and social demands, which can negatively impact the caregiver's health and well-being, resulting in burden. Despite this recognition, evidence regarding caregiver burden in the context of caring for individuals aged 90 and over, as well as the factors associated with this outcome, remains scarce. Objective: To analyze the care burden of family caregivers of elderly people aged 90 and over; and to analyze the demographic and health conditions of both caregivers and elderly individuals associated with burden. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted with 354 elderly-caregiver dyads in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Participants were recruited from 53 Basic Health Units in Goiânia with registered populations. Burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview, a 22- item scale with scores ranging from 0 to 88 points. Sociodemographic information (sex, age, race/color, kinship, education, income, marital status) and health/social data of the caregiver (multimorbidity, depressive symptoms, social support, care burden) were collected, along with health data of the elderly (multimorbidity, basic activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living), as well as clinical, functional, and psychosocial information. Descriptive analysis and adjusted linear regression were performed, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: The mean burden score was 45,13 +15,18, and 35% presented moderate to intense burden and 16% intense burden. Among caregivers, bivariate analysis showed higher burden scores in those with multimorbidities (p=0.002), depressive symptoms (p≤0.001), and social support (p≤0.001). In the adjusted analysis, depressive symptoms remained associated with burden (β=0,65; IC95%: 0,43–0,86; p≤0,001), while social support showed an inverse association (β=-0,14; IC95%: -0,22-0,05; p=0,002). Among the elderly, bivariate analysis showed a significant association between burden and multimorbidity (p=0.003) and dependence in basic activities of daily living (p≤0.001). In the adjusted regression analysis, multimorbidity (β=5,05; IC95%: 0,83–9,28; p=0,019), and activities of daily living (β=1,13; IC95%: 0,06–2,19; p=0,038) remained associated with higher burden. Conclusion: Half of the caregivers experienced moderate to severe burden. Caregiver depressive symptoms increased burden, while social support acted as a protective factor. Multimorbidity and ADL dependence among elderly people aged 90 and over increased the burden. These results have implications for care policies aimed at individuals providing long-term care for the elderly.