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Patients with a late diagnosis have a higher mortality risk during the first 6 months of maintenance dialysis. This increased risk is related to comorbid conditions, some of which could be prevented by predialysis care. Interventions to promote early diagnosis of CRF and adequate predialysis follow-up need to be evaluated if the survival of patients with chronic renal failure is to improve.

This study '

Objectives: To evaluate quality of life among caregivers of elders with Alzheimer's disease and to examine the relationship between patients' quality of life score measured with the Katz Quality of Life Index and the relationship between the caregivers' quality of life measured with the SF-36 and depression score measured with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Methods: This study was conducted in a geriatric clinic (Núcleo de Envelhecimento Cerebral) of the São Paulo Hospital of the Federal University of São Paulo. The sample consisted of 118 patients with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. Sociodemographic and cormobidity data and the Katz score of quality of life and the mini-mental status examination (MMSE) score of the patients with Alzheimer's disease were obtained through chart review. Data from caregivers comprised sociodemographic and comorbidity data and the SF-36 score of quality of life and the BDI score of depression. Results: SF-36 scores that were indicative of depression among caregivers were vitality (score = 56.8) and the scores on physical and emotional components were = 58.1, respectively. There was a significantly negative correlation between the caregivers' BDI score and the patients' Katz score, and between the caregivers' SF-36 and BDI scores. There was also a significantly positive correlation between the scores of the caregivers' SF-36 and the patients' Katz scores and between the patient's Katz and MMSE scores. Conclusion:The quality of life of caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease was compromised, which could influence the quality of care they provided to the patients. The quality of life of the caregivers got worse when the functional capacity of the elders with Alzheimer's disease was compromised. RESUMENObjetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida de cuidadores de ancianos con enfermedad de Alzheimer y relacionarla al Índice de Katz de los pacientes y al escore del Inventario de Depresión de Beck de los cuidadores. Métodos: El estudio fue desarrollado en el Núcleo de Envejecimiento Cerebral de la Universidad Federal de Sao Paulo/ Hospital Sao Paulo. La muestra estuvo constituída, respectivamente, por 118 cuidadores y sus pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer (DA). Las informaciones recolectadas en las historias clínicas de los pacientes fueron sociodemográficas y mórbidas, Índice de Katz y Mini examen del estado mental (MEEM). Los datos del cuidador, obtenidos por cuestionarios, fueron el SF -36 y el Inventario de Depresión de Beck (IDB). Resultados: Los escores más comprometidos del SF -36 de los cuidadores fueron: vitalidad (56,8) y los físicos y emocionales con 58,1, respectivamente. Hubo correlación negativa entre el IDB del cuidador y el índice de Katz de los pacientes; entre el SF -36 y el IDB y las correlaciones positivas entre los escores del SF -36 e Índice de Katz y entre los dominios de este índice y los escores del MEEM. Conclusión: La calidad de vida de los cuidadores de pacientes con DA se mostró alterada, pudiendo comprometer los cuidados prestado...