Effectiveness of Souvenaid® combined with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors on caregiver burden in Alzheimer´s disease.
INTRODUCTION.
The burden experienced by caregivers of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) patients is a complex and stressful situation influenced by distinct variables, such as
the patient´s need for monitoring, social isolation, mental or physical health problems, or financial challenges. In additon, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are strongly associated with caregiver experiences of burden.
METHODS.
This was a 12-month, retrospective, single-center, real-world study to evaluate the effectiveness of the combined treatment with Souvenaid and acetyl-
cholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) compared to treatment with either AChEI alone or Souvenaid alone on caregiver burden, anxiety and depression in patients, and AD patients attending a memory clinic. Assessments were conducted using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S), and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Caregiver distress scale (NPI-D). A mixed model for repeated measures was conducted to evaluate differences from baseline to month 12 between caregivers in the three treatment groups.
RESULTS.
At 12 months, caregiver burden, depression, anxiety levels, and the emotional distress in the context of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia
(BPSD) improved in caregivers in the Souvenaid plus AChEI group (n = 70) compared to those in the AChEI group (n = 84) and those in the Souvenaid group (n = 66). The mean change for the ZBI score was found to be significantly higher in the Souvenaid plus AChEI group than in the AChEI group (p < 0.001) and the Souvenaid group (p< 0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference in the mean change for the BDI, STAI-S, and NPI-D scores between groups, favoring the Souvenaid plus AChEI group over the AChEI and Souvenaid groups.
DISCUSSION.
In addition to assessing patients’ cognitive, behavioral, and daily functioning, it is recommended regular monitoring of caregiver burden while providing support for patients with dementia. The combined treatment with Souvenaid andAChEI may have a significant impact on caregivers’ experience of burden.
Further information:
https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/trc2.70262