A Meta-analytic Study of Predictors for Informal Caregiver Burden in Patients With Stroke

Several studies have reported on predictors for caregiver burden in patients with stroke, but the magnitude of the impact of these variables remains unclear. The aim of the study was to determine the magnitude of relationship between each predictor and caregiver burden.

Articles related to this filed were search in PUBMED, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library electronic database from the upset to May 2018. Of the 812 articles identified, 22 were included in the final analysis (3025 patients and 2887 caregivers). Weighted correlation coefficient (r-index) was computed as effect size for each predictor.

Of predictor variables of patients, the activity of daily living and anxiety had moderate to large effect sizes; gender, neurological function and depression had the small to moderate effect sizes. Of caregivers' predictors, depression, anxiety, and sense of coherence had large effect sizes; gender, daughter in law, physical health and employment status had small to moderate effect sizes.

The most powerful predictors of caregiver burden using meta-analysis were identified to direct future research and evidence-based practice.