Prevalence of depression in caregivers of stroke patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
 To determine the frequency of depression in caregivers of stroke patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Karachi Pakistan.
 METHODS 
 A cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers of stroke, who were recruited from the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan, between January 2018 to October 2018. Data was collected through the Urdu Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D-U) and it was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
 RESULTS
 A total of 136 caregivers participated in the study. Among them, 44.1 % were male and 55.9% were female. The mean age of caregivers was 45.38 ± 10.33 years. Using the HAM-D-U scale, depression was present in 64 (47.1%) caregivers. Out of them (n=64), 46 (33.8%) caregivers had mild depression whereas 18 (13.2%) had moderate depression. Depression was found to have a significant relationship with the age of the patient (p=0.002), education level of caregiver (p= 0.012), employment status of caregiver (p=0.012), being a sole caregiver (p=0.039), and monthly family income (p=0.016).
 CONCLUSIONS
 Caring for patients with neurological disorders is highly challenging and demanding. The need for this role may arise unexpectedly in one’s life; leaving little space for adjustment and coping. Depression itself can be very paralyzing for the sufferer especially if moderate to severe in intensity. Depression in stroke caregivers can be missed as patients are the center of a clinical visit. Hence, strategies should be designed and reinforced to screen patients and caregivers for depression along with a pathway for an easy and timely referral.

Depressive Symptoms and Its Associated Factors Among Primary Caregivers of Stroke Survivors at Amhara Regional State Tertiary Hospitals: Multicenter Study

“…The finding of the present study was higher than that of Indonesia 56.7%, 36 United States, 47.9%, 37 Pakistan, 47.1%, 5 Helsinki, 31 to 33%, 24 Nigeria, 46.1%, 38 Netherlands 23%, 39 and Malaysia, 20.3%, 40 and systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies 40.2%. 17 The discrepancy of results might be due to the assessment tool, study design, sample size, the health care delivery system, economic status, life style and other sociodemographic factors.…”

“…This was consistent with other studies conducted in Malaysia, 40 and Pakistan. 5 The possible explanation could be that everyone needs social connections to survive and thrive, but the elderly spends most of their time alone and socially isolated. Loneliness and social isolation are closely associated with a high burden of depression.…”

“… 3 It is greater than the depression of stroke patients sometimes, 4 and it is associated with negative health outcomes such as anxiety, psychological impairments, morbidity, and mortality. 5 …”

Relationship Between Spirituality and Mental Health Conditions Among Undergraduate Students

“…Rehman et al (2021) observed that in a sample of university students in Karachi, females exhibited a 70% higher prevalence of depression compared to males. Similarly, another study examining stress and depression rates among university students in Karachi, found significant gender differences, with female students displaying higher levels of depression than their male counterparts (Naseem et al, 2019).…”

Hubungan Hiperglikemia Reaktif dengan Kemampuan Kegiatan Hidup Sehari-Hari Pada Pasien Stroke Iskemik Akut

“…Menurut penelitian Tziomalos dkk, melaporkan dalam suatu populasi ditemukan 8,6% mengalami stres hiperglikemi dengan hasil yang lebih buruk pada pasien stroke iskemik akut (Tziomalos et al, 2017). Menurut (Rehman et al, 2015) stres hiperglikemia yang ditemukan pada pasien setelah stroke akut sebanyak 26% pasien.…”