چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background:We aim to describe the health-related quality of life of informal carers and their experiences of primary care.
Methods:Responses from the 2011-12 English General Practice Patient Survey, including 195,364 informal carers, were
analysed using mixed effect logistic regressions controlling for age, gender, ethnicity and social deprivation to describe
carer health-related quality of life (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression, measured using
EQ-5D) and primary care experience (access, continuity and communication).
Results:Informal carers reported poorer health-related quality of life than non-carers of similar age, gender, ethnicity and
social deprivation. Increasing caringcommitment was associated with worse EQ-5D scores, with carers of 50+ hours a
week scoring 0.05 points lower than non-carers (95 % CI 0.05 to0.04), equivalent to 18 fewer days of full health annually.
Considering each domain of EQ-5D separately, carers of50+ hours/week were more likely to report pain OR = 1.53
(1.50-1.57), p < 0.0001, and anxiety/depression OR = 1.69 (1.66-1.73), p < 0.0001, than non-carers. Younger carers scored
lower on EQ-5D than non-carer peers but the converse was true among over-85s. In the most deprived areas carers
reported the equivalent of 37 fewer days of full health annually than carers in the most affluent areas. On average, carers
reported poorer patient experiences in all areas of primary care than non-carers (odds ratios 0.84-0.97), with this difference
being most marked in the domain of access.
Conclusions:Informal carers experience a double disadvantage of poorer health-related quality of life and poorer
patient experience in primary care. We find no evidence for health benefits of caregiving. We recommend physicians
identify and treat carer health problems, including pain and anxiety/depression, particularly among young, deprived
and high time-commitment carers. Improving patient experience for carers, including access to primary care, should
be a priority.