Vaccine uptake in caregivers family members and patients with dementia and relationship with severity of dementia and caregiver burden: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2023-07, Vol.35 (7), p.1565-1569
• Main Authors: Lucijanic, Jelena, Hanzevacki, Miroslav, Bazdaric, Ksenija, Jurin, Ivana, Lucijanic, Marko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Caregivers; COVID-19 vaccines; Cross-sectional studies; Dementia; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Immunization; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Patients; Short Communication
• ISSN: 1720-8319; 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/s40520-023-02443-6

We cross sectionally evaluated COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccination rates among 94 dyads consisting of informal caregiver family member and non-institutionalized patient with dementia observed in family-medicine practice in Zagreb, Croatia. COVID-19 vaccination rates in caregivers (78.7%) and patients with dementia (82.9%) were significantly higher than in general population. Caregiver and patient COVID-19 vaccination status (CVS) did not correlate. Among caregivers, seasonal flu vaccination ( P   =  0.004) but no other investigated factors related to caregiving or dementia severity showed significant association with CVS. Among patients with dementia, CVS was significantly associated with lower number of caregiver hours dedicated per week ( P   =  0.017), higher caregiver SF-36 role emotional HRQoL ( P   =  0.017), younger patient age ( P  =  0.027), higher MMSE ( P  =  0.030), higher Barthel index ( P  =  0.006), absence of neuropsychiatric symptoms of agitation and aggression ( P  =  0.031), lower overall caregiver burden ( P  =  0.034), lower burden of personal strain (P  =  0.023) and lower burden of frustration ( P   =  0.016). Caregiving and severity of dementia-related factors significantly affect patient, but not caregiver CVS.