Inter-rater agreement of the Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) self-rating and proxy rating scale: secondary analysis of RightTimePlaceCare data

Background and Objectives: As with other chronic diseases with limited medical treatment, the most important goal of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment is to provide a better quality of life (QoL). The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the QoL of patients with mild to moderate AD in terms of patients and caregivers. Materials and Methods: Seventy-three home-dwelling patients with AD and their caregivers participated in this prospective, cross-sectional study. The patients were asked about their cognition, depression and a self-rating part of a QoL questionnaire. The caregivers were asked about their patients’ sociodemographic information, sleepiness, activities of daily living and a proxy rating part of a QoL questionnaire. Results: The self-rated QoL was higher than that provided by the proxy rating. Cognition (p = 0.02), sleepiness (p < 0.01) and depression (p = 0.03) were correlated with the self-rated QoL, while the patient’s independence level in activities of daily living was correlated with the proxy-rated QoL (p < 0.05). In regard to predicting QoL according to linear regression analysis, the following were statistically significant: depression was for total score, depression and cognition were for the self-rating and instrumental activities of daily living was for the proxy rating (p < 0.01). Conclusions: While individual factors such as psychology are an important determinant of QoL for patients with AD, objective conditions such as the independence of the patient in daily life are important for the caregiver. While evaluating the quality of life of AD patients, it is important to remember that patients and caregivers have different priorities, and the priorities of both should be taken into account when planning a treatment program.

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Investigation of the Factors Affecting Quality of Life in Patients with Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study from Turkey

10.21203/rs.3.rs-486899/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elvan Felekoğlu ◽

Sevgi ÖZALEVLİ ◽

Hazal YAKUT ◽

Rıdvan AKTAN ◽

Görsev YENER

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Alzheimer Disease ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Daily Living ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Self Rating ◽

Proxy Rating

Abstract Background Like other chronic diseases with limited medical treatment, the most important goal of Alzheimer’s disease rehabilitation is to provide a better quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the quality of life of the patients with Alzheimer's Disease (according to parts of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease Questionnaire: patient, proxy and total score). Methods In this cross-sectional study, 73 home-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's Disease and their caregivers were recruited. Cognition, depression and Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating were asked to the patient. The caregiver was asked about patient’s sociodemographic information, sleepiness, activities of daily living and Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -proxy rating. Results The Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating were higher than the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -proxy rating. Cognition (p = 0.02), sleepiness (p < 0.01) and depression (p = 0.03) were correlated with the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating, while the independence level of the patient in activities of daily living was correlated to the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -proxy rating (p < 0.05). Predicting quality of life according to linear regression analysis those were statistically significant in respectively; depression is for Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease, depression and cognition were for Quality of Life in Alzheimer’ Disease -self rating and instrumental activities of daily living was for QoL-AD-PR (p < 0.01). Conclusion While subjective situations such as psychology is important for the patients with Alzheimer's Disease, objective conditions such as the independence of the patient’s in daily life activities are important for the caregiver. While evaluating the quality of life, both the evaluations of the patients with Alzheimer's Disease and the caregiver should be applied, because different things are prioritized by them and priorities of both should be taken into account when planning the treatment program.

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Perception of change in sexual activity in Alzheimer's disease: views of people with dementia and their spouse-caregivers

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610216001642 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 185-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marcela Moreira Lima Nogueira ◽

Jose Pedro Simões Neto ◽

Maria Fernanda B. Sousa ◽

Raquel L. Santos ◽

Isabel Barbeito Lacerda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

Sexual Dissatisfaction ◽

Spouse Caregivers

ABSTRACTIntroduction:The onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects couples’ relationship. We investigated the perception of change and sexual satisfaction in spouse-caregivers and their partners diagnosed with AD.Methods:We compared 74 dyads of people with Alzheimer's disease (PwAD)/spouse-caregivers and 21 elderly dyads control. We assessed sexual satisfaction with Questionnaire on Sexual Experience and Satisfaction (QSES), cognition using a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), disease severity using a Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR), awareness of disease with Assessment Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), functionality with Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), depressive symptoms with Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), quality of life using a Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QoL-AD), and burden using a Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI).Results:We found differences between the perception and no perception of change in sexual activity of PwAD (p < 0.001), spouse-caregivers (p < 0.01), and controls (p < 0.05). Moderate to severe sexual dissatisfaction was observed in 36.5% of PwAD, 65% of spouse-caregivers, and 31% of controls. PwAD sexual satisfaction was related to cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). Spouse-caregivers sexual satisfaction was related to gender (p < 0.05) and the presence of sexual activity (p < 0.001).Conclusions:The perception of change with higher sexual dissatisfaction, were significant in PwAD and their spouse-caregivers, in comparison with couples of elderly without dementia.

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Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation as an Add-On Treatment for Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Impact on Self-Rated Quality of Life and Caregiver’s Burden

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11060740 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 740

Author(s):

Juliana Teti Mayer ◽

Caroline Masse ◽

Gilles Chopard ◽

Magali Nicolier ◽

Matthieu Bereau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

The Impact

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with progressive memory loss and decline in executive functions, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms. Patients usually consider quality of life (QoL) and mood as more important for their health status than disease-specific physical and mental symptoms. In this open-label uncontrolled trial, 12 subjects diagnosed with AD underwent 10 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (10 Hz, 20 min, 2000 pulses/day, 110% MT). Outcomes were measured before and 30 days after treatment. Our primary objective was to test the efficacy of rTMS as an add-on treatment for AD on the global cognitive function, assessed through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS). As secondary objectives, the detailed effect on cognitive functions, depression and anxiety symptoms, QoL, and functionality in daily life activities were evaluated, as well as correlations between QoL and cognition, depression and anxiety scores. The treatment significantly enhanced semantic memory and reduced anxiety. Improvement of these features in AD could become an important target for treatment strategies. Although limited by its design, this trial may contribute with another perspective on the analysis and the impact of rTMS on AD.

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CAN CONTINUOUS, INTER-GENERATIONAL COOPERATION POSITIVELY IMPACT? FINAL RESULT

Journal of Aging Research and Lifestyle ◽

10.14283/jarcp.2016.102 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

R. Rokkaku ◽

A. Homma ◽

S. Kobayashi ◽

Y. Seki

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Care Services ◽

Intergenerational Cooperation ◽

The Impact

An aim of the present study is to examine the impact of inter-generational cooperation on the quality of life of elderly Alzheimer’s sufferers. The study is a continuing, two-year intervention report. The subject consist of an intervention and a control groups of six and five sufferers, respectively, who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Both groups attend day care services. The intervention group participates in the inter-generational program with children, while the control group does not. In the results, the score of Quality of Life – Alzheimer’s disease (QOL-AD ) of the subjects has been significantly higher in the intervention group comparing with that of the control group. been significantly higher in the intervention group comparing with that of the control group. Also the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Affect Rating Scale(PGC-ARS), have been significantly higher in the intervention group those in the control group., The magnitude of the change was not so remarkable as to influence QOL-AD at home. The present intergenerational cooperation may improve the quality of life of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s sufferers.

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Spouse-caregivers’ quality of life in Alzheimer's disease

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610214002646 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 837-845 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Marcela Moreira Lima Nogueira ◽

Jose Pedro Simões Neto ◽

Maria Fernanda B. Sousa ◽

Raquel L. Santos ◽

Rachel D. L. Rosa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Spouse Caregivers ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACTBackground:The relationship between sexuality and quality of life (QoL) of spouse-caregivers remains unclear. We designed this study to evaluate the relationship between sexual satisfaction and spouse-caregivers’ QoL, and to determine the influence of the clinical characteristics of people with dementia (PWD) on spouse-caregivers’ self-reported QoL.Methods:Using a cross-sectional design, 54 PWD and their spouse-caregivers completed the QoL in Alzheimer's Disease scale (QoL-AD), questionnaire on sexual experience and satisfaction (QSES), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR), Assessment Scale of Psychosocial Impact of the Diagnosis of Dementia (ASPIDD), Pfeffer functional activities questionnaire (FAQ), the Cornell scale for depression in dementia (CSDD) and Zarit burden interview (ZBI). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors that influenced the spouse-caregivers’ QoL ratings.Results:We did not find a significant difference in QoL between male and female spouse-caregivers (p = 0.71). We also found that 13% of males and 48.1% of females demonstrated moderate to severe sexual dissatisfaction. However, we did not find a significant correlation between spouse-caregivers’ QoL and sexual satisfaction (p = 0.41). The linear regression indicated that impaired awareness and lower QoL of PWD were significantly related to spouse-caregivers’ QoL (p = 0.000).Conclusions:The spouse-caregivers’ QoL is influenced by awareness of disease and PWD QoL. Our study would be helpful for the development of adequate psycho-educational approaches to increase spouse-caregivers’ QoL, considering the specificities of the couples’ relationship.

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