COPD at the End of Life: Predictors of the Emotional Distress of Patients and Their Family Caregivers

The study examined emotional distress in 85 end-stage COPD patients and their 85 family caregivers, finding that caregiver burden significantly impacted patient distress. Patient-related factors like functional dependence and comorbidity also influenced caregiver distress. Caregiver variables explained 8% of patient distress variance, while patient medical variables explained 15%. For caregivers, their burden was the main predictor, explaining 12% of their distress variance. The study emphasized the interconnected emotional experiences of patients and caregivers, highlighting the need for palliative care to address both medical and psychological factors. It suggested future research focus on intervention programs to support caregivers, noting limitations like small sample size and lack of gender diversity.