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Objective To examine the association between caregiver burden and comorbidity in elderly patients with cognitive impairment.Methods The study was conducted in 212 patients at the Memory Clinic and the Departments of Geriatrics and Neurology of Fuxing Hospital from September 2014 to September 2016.Recruited patients were assigned into a dementia group and a non-dementia group according to their cognitive status and were examined using mini mental state examination (MMSE),auditory verbal learning test (AVLT),activity of daily living (ADL),neuropsychiatric inventory(NPI),and Charlson comorbidity index(CCI).Their caregivers were surveyed with Zarit burden inventory (ZBI).Results The ZBI score was significantly correlated with patients' age,gender,CCI,MMSE,NPI,and ADL.The ZBI score was higher in male patients(21.21 ± 11.24)than in female patients(18.33±10.38).Age(r=0.10,P＜0.001),NPI(r=0.32,P＜0.001),ADL(r=0.29,P ＜0.001),and CCI(r =0.38,P ＜0.001) were positively correlated with caregiver burden,while MMSE(r =-0.28,P ＜ 0.001) was negatively correlated with it.Multiple linear regression model analysis indicated that MMSE,NPI,ADL,and CCI were influencing factors for caregiver burden.When CCI was stratified into CCIno dementia and CCIdementi8,influencing factors for caregiver burden were identified as MMSE,NPI,ADL,and CCIdementia.Conclusions Cognitive deterioration,decrease in ADL,and neuropsychiatric symptoms in elderly patients are the major causes of increased caregiver burden.Besides,the number and severity of comorbidity are independent factors for caregiver burden.
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Objective To investigate the knowledge and recognition of middle aged and elderly cognitive normal people in clock drawing test (CDT) and determine the items of CDT.Methods Two hundred and sixty four middle aged and elderly cognitive normal people from community were involved in the cross-sectional study.The questionnaire was comprised of 26 items scoring in CDT in literature.Each item was rated by subjects as complete agreement, partial agreement or disagreement.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the related items of age and education degree.Results There were 5 items significantly related with age and education.Twelve items enjoyed complete agreement of more than 50％ and disagreement lower than 20％.The new scoring system was composed of 12 items, including the 12 complete agreement items excepted one which was significantly related to age and education, and one item that was proved to be sensitive to cognitive impairment.Conclusion The new scoring system with 12 items for CDT may be suitable in screening cognitive impairment with high identity, and further investigation about the validity and reliability should be conducted.