Caregiver Burden and Depressive Symptoms in Stroke Survivors' Informal Caregivers in a Resource-Constrained Setting:...

Background Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, with a growing number of survivors requiring assistance with daily activities. In resource-constrained settings, this responsibility is frequently assumed by informal caregivers, potentially leading to caregiver burden and adverse mental health outcomes. However, data from underserved regions remain limited. Objective To determine the prevalence of caregiver burden among primary informal caregivers of patients with stroke sequelae and to explore its relationship with sociodemographic factors and depressive symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional study with an exploratory analytical component was conducted at a secondary-level hospital of the Mexican Social Security Institute in southern Mexico between January 2024 and June 2025. Primary informal caregivers of patients with stroke sequelae were included using a non-probability consecutive sampling strategy. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. Comparisons between caregivers with and without burden were performed using the Chi-square test for categorical variables. Continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results A total of 57 caregivers were included (median age 47 years [q25-q75: 42-58]); 47 (82.5%) were female. The prevalence of caregiver burden was 50 (87.7%), while 25 (43.9%) participants exhibited depressive symptoms. Caregivers with burden were older than those without burden (median 47 vs. 41 years; p = 0.027). A significant association was observed between caregiver burden and relationship to the patient (p = 0.012), with children and spouses more frequently affected. Depressive symptoms were present in 25 (50.0%) caregivers with burden and in 0 (0%) of those without burden (p = 0.013). Conclusions Caregiver burden is highly prevalent among informal caregivers of stroke survivors in this resource-limited setting and is closely related to the presence of depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating caregiver assessment into routine clinical practice and support the need for strategies aimed at improving caregiver support and preparedness, particularly in underserved contexts.