Publication:

Assessment of quality of life, anxiety and depression among the caregivers of chronic liver disease patients admitted to a public hospital of South Punjab Pakistan

Background Chronic liver disease (CLD) is a major global health concern, impacting not only patients but also their caregivers. Caregivers are essential in managing patients’ physical and emotional needs, which can affect their own mental well-being and quality of life. However, limited research has explored the psychological and emotional health of caregivers of CLD patients.

Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated the quality of life, anxiety, and depression among caregivers of CLD patients. A total of 250 caregivers were recruited from Nishtar Hospital, Multan, Pakistan. The generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale was used to measure anxiety, patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) descriptive system for quality of life assessment.

Results Among the caregivers, 56.8% were female, 80.4% were first-degree relatives, and 65.6% lived in rural areas. Most caregivers (43.2%) were aged 31–45 years, with 48.8% having provided care for 3–10 months. Mental health assessments revealed that many caregivers experienced mild to moderate anxiety and depression, reporting symptoms like nervousness, excessive worrying, low energy, and disturbed sleep. Quality of life assessments showed that caregivers commonly experienced slight to moderate difficulties in mobility, self-care, and performing daily activities.

Conclusions Caregivers of CLD patients face considerable emotional and psychological challenges, including elevated levels of anxiety and depression and reduced quality of life. These findings emphasize the urgent need for healthcare systems to acknowledge the caregiver burden and offer appropriate psychological support and resources to improve caregiver well-being.