Discrepancies regarding the quality of life of patients with Alzheimer's disease: a three-year longitudinal study.
Cross-sectional studies report notable discrepancies between patient and caregiver ratings of the quality of life of patients (QoL-p) with Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to identify the factors associated with any changes in QoL-p ratings and any discrepancies between patient and caregiver ratings of QoL-p. Three-year follow-up of a cohort of non-institutionalized patients (n = 119). QoL-p was assessed by the Quality of Life in AD (QoL-AD) scale. We analyzed the influence of functional and cognitive status and behavioral problems in patients, and burden and mental health in caregivers. Repeated measures analysis was applied to the scores of patients and caregivers on the QoL-AD, and to the discrepancies between them. Generally, patients' own ratings remained stable over time (F3,116 = 0.9, p = 0.439), whereas caregiver ratings showed a decline (F3,116 = 9.4, p < 0.001). In the analysis of discrepancies, patients with anosognosia gave higher ratings (F1,117 = 11.9, p = 0.001), whereas caregiver ratings were lower when the patient showed greater agitation (F1,117 = 13.0, p < 0.001), apathy (F1,117 = 15.4, p < 0.001), and disabilities (F1,117 = 17.1, p < 0.001), and when the caregiver experienced greater burden (F1,117 = 9.0, p = 0.003) and worse mental health (F1,117 = 10.1, p = 0.003). Patient ratings of QoL-p remain generally stable over time, whereas those of caregivers show a decline, there being significant discrepancies in relation to specific patient and caregiver factors.
['Conde-Sala|Josep L|JL|', 'Turró-Garriga|Oriol|O|', 'Garre-Olmo|Josep|J|', 'Vilalta-Franch|Joan|J|', 'Lopez-Pousa|Secundino|S|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000377:Agnosia D000544:Alzheimer Disease D001526:Behavioral Symptoms D017028:Caregivers D003072:Cognition Disorders D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008137:Longitudinal Studies D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009483:Neuropsychological Tests D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales D011788:Quality of Life D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D013997:Time Factors
quality of life patients Alzheimer's disease longitudinal study caregivers mental health anosognosia disabilities caregiver burden neuropsychiatric symptoms