[Musculoskeletal injuries in elderly caregivers]

The scarce studies regarding the non-professional caregivers health have focused more on the repercussions of care on their mental health than on the study of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI), despite the fact that care can cause the development of MSI, due to the personal characteristics of the caregiver or the environment that surrounds them.

To identify the factors associated with MSI in elderly caregivers in a second-level hospital in Mexico and to know its prevalence.

Analytical observational study; a questionnaire was administered to 283 elderly caregivers and their dependents. The survey included 62 variables related to environmental factors, factors inherent to care, and personal factors, in addition to the site of MSI; statistical analysis was descriptive and analytical (multivariate model).

Prevalence of MSI in older adult caregivers was 34.6%. Main factors associated were being female, having some comorbidity, duration of care greater than 13 hours a day for more than 13 months, a physical area reduced to provide care and social isolation. These factors increased between 1.9 and 12 the risk of suffering an MSI. Musculoskeletal injuries occurred mainly at the lumbar level of the spine.

This is the first report in Mexico that identifies the prevalence of MSI in older adult caregivers and the factors associated with them.