High Burden among Older Family Caregivers is Associated with High Prevalence of Symptoms: Data from the Swedish Study “Good Aging in Skåne (GÅS)”

Table 3

Prevalence of symptoms n (%) comparing male and female caregivers.

Symptoms, n (%)	Male caregivers 285 (50.9%)	Female caregivers 275 (49.1%)
Depressive symptoms
Feeling exerted	74 (26.6)	98 (36.2)	0.016
Sleeping problems	88 (31.8)	140 (51.7)	<0.001
General fatigue	180 (64.7)	186 (68.9)	0.304
Depressive mood	87 (31.3)	113 (41.7)	0.011
Tearfulness	57 (20.5)	122 (45.0)	<0.001
Musculoskeletal symptoms
Joint pains	129 (46.4)	133 (49.1)	0.530
Back ache	138 (49.6)	146 (53.9)	0.321
Leg pains	115 (43.2)	124 (49.2)	0.173
Difficulty walking	66 (24.8)	59 (23.4)	0.710
Gastrourinary symptoms
Appetite loss	13 (4.7)	29 (10.7)	0.008
Nausea	22 (7.9)	31 (11.4)	0.162
Diarrhoea	36 (12.9)	29 (10.7)	0.415
Constipation	25 (9.0)	38 (14.1)	0.062
Abdominal pain	51 (18.3)	60 (22.2)	0.259
Difficulty urinate	48 (17.3)	8 (3.0)	<0.001
Incontinence-urine	40 (15.0)	57 (22.6)	0.027
Incontinence-stool	16 (6.0)	16 (6.4)	0.865
Symptoms related to head
Headaches	55 (20.8)	98 (38.9)	<0.001
Dizziness	59 (22.2)	75 (29.8)	0.049
Auditory problems	97 (36.5)	75 (29.8)	0.105
Eye problems	79 (29.8)	76 (30.2)	0.931
Cardiopulmonary symptoms
Chest pains	50 (18.1)	41 (15.1)	0.358
Breathlessness	82 (30.8)	75 (29.8)	0.792
Cough	70 (25.2)	83 (30.6)	0.155
Symptoms related to tension
Irritability	143 (51.4)	152 (56.1)	0.275
Nervousness	76 (27.3)	106 (39.1)	0.003
Trouble concentrating	96 (34.5)	109 (40.2)	0.168
Difficulty relaxing	99 (35.6)	137 (50.6)	<0.001
Restlessness	90 (34.2)	90 (33.2)	0.835
Metabolic symptoms
Weight loss	15 (5.4)	15 (5.5)	0.943
Overweight	54 (20.4)	63 (25.0)	0.016
Feeling frozen	117 (22.6)	1234 (26.5)	0.209
Sweats	54 (20.3)	94 (37.3)	<0.001
No. of symptoms md (q1, q3)	8.0 (4.0–13.0)	10.0 (6.0–15.0)	<0001