Care of Patients with Heart Failure or Pulmonary HypertensionCaregiving in heart failure: Relationship quality is associated with caregiver benefit finding and caregiver burden

In heart failure, relationship quality was linked to finding benefit in caregiving.Good relationship quality was associated with less caregiver burden and depression.We suggest a need to better understand these key caregiving factors in heart failure.

ObjectiveTo determine whether relationship quality is associated with caregiver benefit or burden and how depression influences these associations.BackgroundCaregivers influence outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF). Relationship quality, caregiver benefit and burden are key factors in the caregiving experience.MethodsNineteen caregivers of HF outpatients completed measures of relationship quality, caregiver benefit, burden and depression. Associations were assessed using Pearson's correlations.ResultsRelationship quality was positively associated with caregiver benefit (r = 0.45, P = 0.05) and negatively associated with burden (r = −0.80, P < 0.0001) and depression (r = −0.77, P = 0.0001). Relationship quality and burden remained associated after controlling for depression.ConclusionsIn this exploratory study, relationship quality was positively associated with caregiver benefit and negatively associated with burden. Future studies are needed to further understand these key caregiving factors, which may lead to opportunities to help caregivers see benefits and reduce burden.