Quality of life and overload of the caregiver of people with Acquired Brain Injury. A systematic review.

Abstract

Taking care for a person with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) implies negative consequences for the informal caregiver's health-related quality of life (HRQL), and generally, it causes overload. The objective of this review is to know the impact on HRQL, rate the physical, psychologic and social problems; and the overload perceived by the informal caregiver of relatives with ABI. The databases consulted were Medline, ScienceDirect and the “Biblioteca Virtual en Salud”, with the combination of keywords. The most relevant studies published in the last 5 years have been accepted. The majority of caregivers are women (74, 5%), daughters or spouses, with an average age of 58, 4 years, and they dedicate an average of 5,81 years to those who are cared for. Indicators of a traditional model of caring, where women dedicate entirely to the attention of the affected, leaving little time for carrying out other activities. More policies are needed about the informal caregiver in the caring process and their health condition in general, associated with a greater presence of overload and deterioration of the HRQL.