Predictors of caregiver burden due to chronic breathlessness: an exploratory study

<bold>Background:</bold> Caregivers of people with chronic breathlessness due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience significant burden. Understanding its predictors is critical for designing person-centred support. <bold>Aim:</bold> To explore caregiver burden predictors due to chronic breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council [mMRC]≥3) and COPD in a substudy of a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial of low-dose, sustained-release morphine for chronic breathlessness reduction. <bold>Methods:</bold> Exploratory analysis of caregivers’ self-reported burden at baseline. Measures: <bold>[caregiver]</bold> <italic>demographics</italic>; <italic>burden</italic> (Zarit Burden Interview 12-item); <bold>[patient]</bold> <italic>breathlessness</italic> (worst/average [numerical rating scale]; mMRC; CRQ dyspnea/mastery); <italic>comorbidities</italic> (Charlson Co-Morbidity Index); <italic>function</italic> (Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Status; Barthel index); <italic>mood</italic> (Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale); <italic>quality of life</italic> (EuroQol visual analogue scale; COPD Assessment Test); and <italic>sleep</italic> (3 questions). <bold>Results:</bold> 49 caregivers (59% female; median age 68 years [IQR 50-75]) reported median caregiver burden 12 [IQR 5-17]. Higher burden correlated with: <bold>[caregiver]</bold> age (younger), sex (female), spending >40 hrs/wk with patient, change in employment; and <bold>[patient]</bold> sex (male), worse anxiety/depression, sleep disturbed by breathlessness. In regression analyses for patients’ (R2=0.513,F(4,31)=8.170,p<0.001) and, separately, caregivers’ variables (R2=0.26,F(4,40)=3.473,p≤0.016), only change in employment (t=2.59,p=0.040) and time spent with patient (t=-2.78,p=0.009) were predictors of burden. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The study provides useful insights into predictors of caregiver burden to be evaluated in future studies.