Continued alcohol consumption and hepatic encephalopathy determine quality of life and psychosocial burden of caregivers in patients with liver cirrhosis
Date issued
Editors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
License
Abstract
Background
Patients with liver cirrhosis suffer from significantly reduced health-related quality of life and are often dependent on support from caregivers. In this context, caregivers often suffer from impaired quality of life (QoL) as well as psychosocial burden (PB). The aim of the present study was to identify factors influencing QoL and PB of caregivers in order to improve the social care of patients and caregivers.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, 106 patients with liver cirrhosis and their caregivers were included. (Health-related) QoL was surveyed in patients (CLDQ) and caregivers (SF-36) and PB was determined by Zarit Burden Interview.
Results
Alcohol related liver cirrhosis (55%) was the predominant etiology of liver cirrhosis and the median MELD of the cohort was 14. QoL did not differ between patients with and without alcohol-related liver cirrhosis (p = 0.6). In multivariable analysis, continued alcohol consumption (p = 0.020), a history of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) (p = 0.010), poorer QoL of patients (p = 0.030) and poorer QoL of caregivers (p = 0.005) were associated with a higher PB of caregivers. Factors independently associated with poorer QoL of caregivers were continued alcohol consumption (p = 0.003) and a higher PB of caregivers (p = 0.030).
Conclusion
Caregivers of patients with liver cirrhosis suffer from impaired QoL and PB, especially in case of continued alcohol consumption or the occurrence of HE.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Published in
Health and quality of life outcomes, 20, BioMed Central, London, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-022-01923-z