Abstract 12706: Novel Correlates of Depressive Symptoms in Family Caregivers of Heart Failure Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Family Caregivers (FCGs) of persons with heart failure (HF) often experience depressive symptoms. Greater understanding of associated factors is essential to direct HF FCG interventions. Purpose: This study examined correlates of depressive symptoms in FCGs of HF patients including individual factors, caregiving demands, family context, and genotype (serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) associated with a predisposition to depression. Methods: HF FCGs (n=127; mean age 55.3 ± 11.5 years, 92% women, 58% African American) were recruited. Measures were: demographics, family functioning (FAD), caregiving demands (Oberst Caregiving Demands, caregiver strain [CS], caring for others), sleep quality (PSQI) and depressive symptoms (CES-D). In a subsample (n= 82), 5-HTTLPR genotype was determined. Analyses included correlations and regression models for the full sample and the 5-HTTLPR genotype allele groups (XL/L, any S) separately. Results: Mean CES-D scores were 15.2 ± 10.4; 41.7% scored > 16 indicating depressive symptoms. Bivariate correlations (p<.05) were found between CES-D scores and caring for others, FAD, mental and physical CS, and Oberst and PSQI scores. Regression models accounted for 42.7% (F 5,106 =17.55, p<.001) of the variability in CES-D scores with PSQI (p<.001), Oberst (p=.006), FAD (p=.005), caring for others (p=.003), and race (p=.01) retained as predictors. In the 5-HTTLPR analyses of the XL/L group, only FAD and PSQI were associated with CESD (n=42; adjR 2 =.339, F( 2,39 )=11.527, p<.001). For the any S allele group, caring for others, and strain were associated with depressive symptoms (n=40; adjR 2 =.54, F ( 3,46 )=20.160, p<.001). Conclusions: Greater depressive symptoms in HF FCGs were predicted by worse sleep, greater burden, worse family functioning, and white race. Caregiver demand/strain had less effect on depressive symptoms in the XL/L allele group whereas these factors affected the any S-type group. Allele variants of the 5-HTTLPR may interact with caregiving burden to affect depressive symptoms differentially and may help identify caregivers at greater risk for depressive symptoms. Improving sleep and reducing caregiving demand may be important targets for intervention.