Effects of the pandemic on caregivers of individuals with neuropsychomotor disorders

Abstract

Introduction  Since social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic can influence a patient’s and informal caregiver’s health, the present study was carried out to understand and improve the latter’s quality of life.

Objective  To analyze the physical, mental and quality of life effects on caregivers of patients with neurological sequelae and developmental delay during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Thirty informal caregivers divided into two groups (G1: Psychomotor disorders and syndromes; G2: Neurological sequelae) were evaluated using questionnaires on general data, burden and quality of life. Chi-square tests with Bonferroni post-hoc correction were performed to compare the response rate between the dependent variables and the level of burden. The student’s t-test was applied to determine the correlation between groups and quality of life, obtaining significant findings (p ≤ 0.05).

Results  No or minimal burden was found in 33.3% of the caregivers, and mild to moderate in 66.7% of each group, with no significant effect between them. In terms of quality of life, a decline was found in all domains, with a significant intergroup difference in social aspects and G1 exhibiting the highest declines (G1: 70.00 ± 23.99%; G2: 86.66 ± 20.84%).

Conclusion  There was a mild-to-moderate impact on physical burden, with a change in the quality of life of caregivers evaluated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers of children with psychomotor disorders and syndromes were the most affected in the social aspect domain.

Caregivers; Quality of Life; SARS-CoV-2; Social Isolation