Religiosity and quality of life of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and of caregivers: Relationship with clinical aspects

ABSTRACT There are few studies on the religiosity of people with Alzheimer’s disease (PwAD) and caregivers, relation with quality of life (QoL) and clinical aspects. Objective: To assess the religiosity and QoL of 39 PwAD and their caregivers; to compare perceived QoL and religiosity of the PwAD with those of their caregivers; to associate QoL and religiosity with the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms, and depression with cognitive performance of PwAD. Results: Organizational religiosity was greater in caregivers. The AD patients had poorer perceived QoL than their caregivers. Caregiver religiosity correlated with that of the AD patients. Higher intrinsic religiosity was associated with lower occurrence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Better caregiver QoL correlated with cognitive performance. Lower occurrence of depression correlated with better QoL of the caregivers and AD patients. Conclusion: The religiosity of caregivers was correlated with that of the AD patients. Better QoL and lower religiosity were observed in caregivers when compared with the AD patients. Caregiver religiosity and QoL were associated with neuropsychiatric and cognitive aspects and depression.

摘要 目前针对阿尔茨海默病患者（people with Alzheimer’s disease，PwAD）及其照顾者的宗教信仰程度、该指标与生活质量（quality of life，QoL）及临床相关方面间关联的研究较为匮乏。
研究目的：评估39名阿尔茨海默病患者及其照顾者的宗教信仰程度与生活质量；对比阿尔茨海默病患者与其照顾者的感知生活质量及宗教信仰程度；分析宗教信仰程度、生活质量与神经精神症状（neuropsychiatric symptoms）的关联，以及抑郁与阿尔茨海默病患者认知表现（cognitive performance）的关联。
研究结果：照顾者的组织性宗教信仰（organizational religiosity）程度更高。阿尔茨海默病患者的感知生活质量较其照顾者更差。照顾者的宗教信仰程度与阿尔茨海默病患者的宗教信仰程度呈显著相关。更高的内在性宗教信仰（intrinsic religiosity）程度与更低的神经精神症状发生率相关。更好的照顾者生活质量与患者的认知表现呈正相关。更低的抑郁发生率与照顾者及阿尔茨海默病患者更高的生活质量相关。
研究结论：照顾者的宗教信仰程度与阿尔茨海默病患者的宗教信仰程度呈显著相关。相较于阿尔茨海默病患者，照顾者的生活质量更高，但其宗教信仰程度更低。照顾者的宗教信仰程度与生活质量分别与神经精神症状、认知功能及抑郁水平存在关联。