Abstract
BACKGROUND: Caregiver support is essential for patients with heart failure to receive continued care at home. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cross-sectional study of 60 heart failure patients and their primary caregivers (consent rate 62.5%) examined the relationship between the caregivers' assessment of caregiving using the Caregiver Reaction Assessment Japanese version and the patients' and caregivers' sociodemographic factors, the patients' physical condition, the caregiving activities, and health-related quality of life assessed using Short Form-8. The results indicated that Short Form-8 scores were inversely associated with positive appraisal of caregiving (β=-0.33; P=0.01). The impact on the schedule of daily living was associated with caregivers' mental health (β=-0.28; P=0.04) and the frequency of practical support related to medical treatment (β=0.25; P=0.05). There were associations between the following: impact on health (2.3±0.9) and caregiver employment (β=-0.27; P=0.03); lack of family support (2.2±0.8) and hours of care per day (β=0.25; P=0.05); and impact on finances (2.3±1.2) and functional health literacy (β=0.25; P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating caregiving appraisal and related factors among caregivers of patients with heart failure may lead to effective support for caregivers.