Caregiving spouses have increased heart risk
25 November 2011
Caring for a spouse may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke, CVD), a US study has found (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2011; online 11 Nov).
The national study followed up more than 8400 married, healthy men and women older than 50 years for 8 years. During this period there were 1699 new diagnoses of stroke or heart disease.
Current caregiving, defined as assisting a husband or wife with daily living for more than 14 hours a week, was associated with a 35 per cent increased risk of CVD onset regardless of the carer's gender or whether they had depression. Long term caregiving (for 2 years or longer) was associated with double the risk of CVD.
Researchers found the impact of long term caregiving varied by race, with a harmful relationship among Caucasians and evidence of a protective effect among non-Caucasians, suggesting more research was needed to illuminate the mechanisms.
Caregiving burdens also often multiply at the age when risk factors for CVD are increasing, the researchers noted.
Last Reviewed: 25 November 2011
- 1. Capistrant BD, Moon JR, Berkman LF, Glymour MM. Current and long-term spousal caregiving and onset of cardiovascular disease. J Epidemiol Community Health 2011 Nov 11. [Epub ahead of print.] doi:10.1136/jech-2011-200040. http://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2011/11/11/jech-2011-200040 (accessed Nov 2011).
