Caregiver Fatigue of Patients With Lower Extremity Amputation

Background: The shift in health care services from hospital-based to community- and home-based care, often provided by family members, exacts a significant emotional and physical toll on both patients and caregivers, an experience known as caregiver fatigue, caregiver strain, or caregiver burden. Methods: The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Short Form Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-12) were used to assess caregiver burden in 10 patients with lower extremity amputation who presented with a caretaker over a 3-month period. Results: A total of 10 patients (7 men and 3 women; mean age, 61.5 years; age range, 42-73 years) with a medical history of peripheral arterial disease (7 [70%]), hypertension (9 [90%]), diabetes mellitus (8 [80%], coronary artery disease (4 [40%]), and end-stage renal disease (3 [30%]) were included. Two patients had contralateral amputations, 3 had undergone prior vascular interventions, and 4 had received conservative management for atherosclerotic disease. Caregivers included wives (6), a husband (1), daughters (2), and a son (1). On the ZBI, the patients reported a mean caregiver burden score of 32.1 (range, 22-53), while caregivers reported a mean score of 43 (range, 19-58). On the ZBI-12, patients reported a mean caregiver burden score of 15 (range, 0-26), whereas caregivers reported a mean score of 21.6 (range, 12-31). Conclusion: Caregivers of patients with lower extremity amputation experience moderate to high levels of burden. While patients recognize some degree of caregiver strain, they underestimate the extent of the burden reported by their caregivers.