Table 2.
Basic characteristics of cross-sectional studies comparing occurrence of diseases/disorders be-tween informal caregivers (IC) and non-caregivers (NC).
| First Author, Publication Year, Country [Reference] |
Year of Recruitment, Follow-Up |
Study Population: N, Age (Mean (SD); Range), Women (%) |
Data Source | Description of Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luckett, 2019, Australia [25] |
2016 | IC vs. NC: 374 vs. 1993, 49 y (17) vs. 47 y (20), 59% vs. 48% |
The Health Omnibus Survey: annual survey with randomly selected households. | The caregiver had to provide any kind of care for someone with cancer in the last five years. |
| Trevino, 2018, USA [26] |
2002–2008 | IC vs. NC: 540 vs. 9282, 53 y (14) vs. 53 y (18), 72% vs. 72% |
The Coping with Cancer study identified IC and the National Comorbidity Survey Replication: general population data. |
The caregiver had to provide any kind of care for a relative or a friend with advanced cancer (estimated life expectancy of six months or less). |
| Hong, 2017, South Korea [27] |
2012–2013 | IC vs. NC: 3868 vs. 310,658, 61 y (14) y vs. 53 y (14) y, 48% vs. 48% |
Korea Community Health Survey. | Spousal caregiving for a partner with dementia. |
| Goren 2016, Japan [28] |
2012–2013 | IC vs. NC: 1302 vs. 53,758, 53 y (14) vs. 48 y (16), 53% vs. 49% |
National Health and Wellness Survey in Japan. | Caring for a related adult with dementia including Alzheimer’s disease. |
| Laks, 2016, Brazil [29] |
2012 | IC vs. NC: 209 vs. 10,644, 42 y (14) vs. 40 y (16), 53% vs. 50% |
The National Health and Wellness Survey: internet-based survey, using stratified random sampling | Any kind of care for a person with dementia. |
| Berglund 2015, Sweden [30] |
2004–2013 | IC vs. NC: 9343 vs. 76,112, 54 y (15) vs. 49 y (18), 59% vs. 54% |
Swedish national public health survey Health on equal terms. |
Any kind of care for a sick or old relative. |
| Gupta, 2015, FR/DE/IT/ES/GB [31] |
2010, 2010 and 2013 |
IC vs. NC: 398 vs. 158,989, 45 y (16) vs. 46 y (16), 60% vs. 51% |
The 5EU National Health and Wellness Survey: stratified random sample. | Any kind of care to a person with schizophrenia. |
| Tuithof, 2015, The Netherlands [32] |
2010–2012 | IC vs. NC: 1759 vs. 3544, <45 y: 36% (21–68 y) vs. 55% (21–68 y), 60% vs. 45% |
The 2nd wave of the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2: nationally representative sample | Providing unpaid care in the 12 months preceding the study to a family member, partner, or friend because of physical or mental problems, or ageing. |
| Verbakel, 2014, AT/BE/CZ/DK/FI/FR/DE/HU/IE/LU/NL/NO/PL/SK/SI/ES/SE/GB [33] |
2007 | IC vs. NC: 4736 vs. 15,600, n.r. vs. n.r. n.r. vs. n.r. |
The European Quality of Life Survey: random samples of the adult population; selection of countries based on availability of all relevant data. | Any kind of care for an elderly or disabled relative. |
| Chan, 2013, Singapore [34] |
2010–2011 | IC vs. NC: 1077 vs. 318, 56 y (13) vs. 57 y (15), 61% vs. 65% |
A stratified, random sample of 20,000 Singaporeans from the national database of dwellings. | Any kind of care for a family member or a friend aged ≥75 y. |
| Herrera, 2013, USA [35] |
1998–1999 | IC vs. NC: 92 vs. 1888, 77 y (0.50) vs. 77 y (0.14), 72% vs. 59% |
The Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (Wave 3). | Caring for a related or unrelated older adult. Mexican-American caregivers aged ≥70 y from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California. |
| Hernandez, 2010, USA [36] |
2000–2001 | IC vs. NC: 57 vs. 57, 78 y (4) vs. 79 y (5), 68% vs. 68% |
The Hispanic Established Populations for Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (Wave 4). | Mexican American caregivers aged ≥65 y from Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and California. Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease or physical disability. |
| Butterworth, 2010, Australia [37] |
2005 | IC vs. NC: 212 vs. 2010, 67 y (0.03), 64–69 y vs. 67 y (0.10), 64–69 y, 59% vs. 47% |
PATH Through Life Project: survey of 3 cohorts from Canberra and Queanbeyan: second wave data of cohort born 1937–1941 For the present analysis. | Any kind of care ≥5 h per week. The sample of care recipients consisted of: physical disability/chronic illness (58%), memory/cognitive problems (10%), mental illness (13%). |
n.r. = not reported; y = years.