Oxidative stress among informal caregivers

Natália Ramos Imamura De Vasconcelos,Thiago José Querino De Vasconcelos,Eduardo Federighi Baisi Chagas,Gilsenir Maria Prevelato De Almeida Dátilo,Pedro Marco Karan Barbosa,Agnaldo Bruno Chies

doi:10.1590/1981-22562019022.190037

Abstract

Abstract Objective: to evaluate oxidative stress and non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses in informal caregivers, and correlations with anxiety, health satisfaction and quality of life. Method: a case-control analytical study was performed, where the case was represented by the main informal caregiver and the control was paired with individuals with identical characteristics to the case, but who were not informal caregivers. The following instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Beck anxiety scale and the WHOQoL-Bref. Oxidative stress was measured through blood by analysis of the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) markets. Results: most informal caregivers were females. There was no difference in the degree of anxiety between the Case and Control groups. Among informal caregivers, 9.4% said they were very dissatisfied and 53.1% dissatisfied with their health. Most caregivers (43.8%) rated their quality of life as poor and 12.5% as very poor, while most controls rated it as good (68.8%). The TBARS and FRAP values were lower in the Case group than in the Control group. Conclusion: The informal caregivers, who were mostly women, defined themselves as dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their health. Nevertheless, they did not manifest a higher degree of anxiety in comparison with the control population. In addition, they presented a lower degree of oxidative stress than the non-caregiving participants, perhaps due to a greater mobilization of the non-enzymatic antioxidant defenses present in the body.

Highlights

Informal caregivers, as they dedicate themselves exclusively to others, can experience significantFree radicals are continuously formed in the changes in their lifestyle and habits
It was observed that due to performing the role of informal caregiver, the population included in the case group was predominantly composed of women, all of whom are family members of the care recipient[23,24]
These data are in line with literature that indicates that women predominantly assume the role of caregiver throughout the world, reflecting a culture rooted in the idea that caring is part of the female reality[25]

Summary

Introduction

As they dedicate themselves exclusively to others, can experience significantFree radicals are continuously formed in the changes in their lifestyle and habits. That free radical concentrations security of the individual, in the short and long term, do not become elevated, the human body possesses involving their reputation and self-esteem, are among enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems the factors that most trigger stress situations[11]. In this capable of eliminating them[1,2,3,4]. The products day life[14]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion