The Caregiver Burden in Dementia: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Local Health Authority of Ascoli Piceno

Abstract

Introduction. Dementias are progressive neurocognitive disorders that impair cognitive functions. Consequently, the patient’s progressive loss of autonomy makes the role of the caregiver fundamental, as a central figure in the care pathway who supports the patient in carrying out activities of daily living. In Italy, there are over 7 million family caregivers, who are exposed to a high physical, psychological, and economic burden, known as caregiver burden. This study analyzes the burnout perceived by caregivers of patients with dementia.

Materials and Methods. A monocentric cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dementia Outpatient Clinic of the U.O.C. of Neurology at the “Madonna del Soccorso” Hospital of the AST of Ascoli Piceno between March 11 and August 26, 2025. The data collection tool included three sections concerning the socio-demographic data of the patient, the caregiver, and the CBI test.

Results. The sample of 100 caregivers showed a mean patient age of 81 years; patients were predominantly women (67%), with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 70% of cases. Caregivers were 75% women, mainly daughters (52%), with a mean age of 60 years, and 20% reported comorbidities. The CBI revealed a high burden, positively correlated with the number of caregiver comorbidities (ρ = 0.23; p = 0.017) and with patient clinical complexity (ρ = 0.35; p < 0.001). A descriptive analysis was conducted using mean (M), standard deviation (SD), frequencies (n, %), and correlations using Spearman’s (ρ) and Pearson’s (r) coefficients.

Discussion. The study shows that Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia, while the caregiving burden mainly affects female caregivers. In particular, high CBI levels are strongly associated with patients with multimorbidity and polypharmacy, reflecting continuous clinical and care complexity.