2206Prevalence and determinants of complicated grief in bereaved caregivers of patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases

• Published in: European heart journal 2019-10, Vol.40 (Supplement_1)
• Main Authors: Shinada, K, Kohno, T, Fukuda, K, Higashitani, M, Kawamatsu, N, Kitai, T, Shibata, T, Takei, M, Nochioka, K, Nakazawa, G, Shiomi, H, Miyashita, M, Mizuno, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz748.0110

Abstract Introduction Few studies have examined complicated grief in bereaved caregivers of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), in contrast with studies in caregivers of patients with cancers. We examined the prevalence and determinants of complicated grief among bereaved caregivers of patients with CVD. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire for bereaved family members of CVD patients who had died in the cardiology departments of 9 tertiary care centers in Japan. We assessed bereaved caregiver grief status using the Brief Grief Questionnaire (BGQ), and its association with their depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9]). Questionnaire also covered following associated factors: bereaved family member and patient characteristics, end-of-life care (Care Evaluation Scale [CES], a scale for assessment of the structure and process of care); and the quality of the deceased patients' death (Good Death Inventory [GDI]). Results A total of 269 bereaved caregivers (mean age, 64±12 years; 35% male) of patients with CVD (heart failure n=155 myocardial infarction n=32, cardiopulmonary arrest n=15, arrhythmia n=8, and others n=59) were enrolled in the study. Overall, 14.1% of the bereaved caregivers had complicated grief (BGQ≥8), 32.3% had subthreshold complicated grief (BGQ=5–7), and 13.3% had depression (PHQ-9≥10). Bereaved caregivers with complicated grief frequently developed depression (58% vs. 6%, p