Effects of the pandemic on caregivers of individuals with neuropsychomotor disorders

Abstract

Introduction: Since social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic can influence a patient’s and informal caregiver’s health, the present study was carried out to understand and improve the latter’s quality of life. Objective: To analyze the physical, mental and quality of life effects on caregivers of patients with neurological sequelae and developmental delay during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Thirty informal caregivers divided into two groups (G1: Psychomotor disorders and syndromes; G2: Neurological sequelae) were evaluated using questionnaires on general data, burden and quality of life. Chi-square tests with Bonferroni post-hoc correction were performed to compare the response rate between the dependent variables and the level of burden. The student’s t-test was applied to determine the correlation between groups and quality of life, obtaining significant findings (p ≤ 0.05). Results: No or minimal burden was found in 33.3% of the caregivers, and mild to moderate in 66.7% of each group, with no significant effect between them. In terms of quality of life, a decline was found in all domains, with a significant intergroup difference in social aspects and G1 exhibiting the highest declines (G1: 70.00 ± 23.99%; G2: 86.66 ± 20.84%). Conclusion: There was a mild-to-moderate impact on physical burden, with a change in the quality of life of caregivers evaluated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers of children with psychomotor disorders and syndromes were the most affected in the social aspect domain.