Burden and Depression among Caregivers of Visually Impaired Patients in a Canadian Population
Table 1
Caregiver and patient characteristics, .
Mean patient age in years SD
76.4 12.1
Patient gender, (%):
Male
109 (46)
Female
127 (54)
Group by visual acuity, (%):
Group 2 (legally blind)
76 (32)
Group 1 (low vision, but not legally blind)
160 (68)
Completed vision rehabilitation in past, (%):
Yes
169 (72)
No
67 (28)
Etiologies of diminished vision, (%)
Age related macular degeneration
170 (72)
Secondary to diabetic disease
38 (16)
Prior vascular occlusion
28 (7)
Caregiver gender, (%):
Male
97 (41)
Female
139 (59)
Mean caregiver age, years SD
64.8 10.2
Relationship with patient, (%):
Child
70 (30)
Spouse
122 (52)
Sibling
31 (13)
Other (friend/grandchild)
13 (6)
Caregivers with chronic illness, (%):
None
175 (74)
One or more chronic illnesses
61 (26)
Patients with chronic illness, (%):
None
126 (52)
One or more chronic illnesses
110 (48)
Duration of caregiving, years, mean SD
6.1 5.6
Hours required for close supervision of the patient per day, mean SD
2.2 0.7
Number of supplemental caregivers, mean SD
0.37 0.68
BCVA: best corrected visual acuity. Group 1: best corrected visual acuity in the better eye > 6/60 yet worse than 6/18. Group 2: best corrected visual acuity in the better eye ≤6/60 (legally blind).
