Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery plus intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (CRS+HIPEC) is a formidable procedure, often affecting the quality of life (QOL) of the caregiver as well as the patient. We explored the impact of quality of life and depressive symptom burdens of CRS+HIPEC caregivers prospectively. STUDY DESIGN: Patient and caregiver dyads were both consented per IRB-approved protocol; CRS ± HIPEC was performed. The impact on QOL and depressive symptom burdens was assessed on patient-caregiver dyads via the Caregiver Quality of Life (CG QOL-C), CES-D (Center for Epidemiological Studies - Depression) instruments; pre-CS+HIPEC (T1), postoperative (T2), 6 (T3), and 12 (T4) months. RESULTS: Seventy-seven dyads were approached, with 73 participating. Both caregiver and patient depressive symptom trajectories changed significantly. CES-D means for caregivers were (T1-4): 15.1 (SE [standard error] 1.7), 15.0 (1.4), 10.3 (1.4), 13.1 (2.1), p = 0.0008; for patients were: 10.3 (SE 1.1), 13.7 (1.4), 9.0 (1.2), and 10.3 (1.5), p = 0.0002. Preoperatively, caregivers scored 4.8 points (SD 13.4) (p = 0.026) higher than patients. Patients experienced an increase in depression scores at the postoperative visit. At T3, both groups dropped to less concerning levels; yet caregiver CES-D scores increased again at T4 4.7 points (SD 12.5) higher than the patients, and financial well-being became worse from T1 to T3. Possible, probable, and "cases" of depression were higher for caregivers were at all measured time points. CONCLUSIONS: Significant numbers of caregivers endured high depressive symptom burdens and financial concerns. Different caregiver-patient trajectories reflect the need for differential timing of supportive interventions. Evaluation of quality of life and impact of CRS+HIPEC procedures must move beyond assessment of only the patient.