Life quality, depression, and anxiety levels in parents of children with primary immunodeficiency
Özet
Background: Primary immune deficiencies (PID) encompasses genetic disorders that
result in recurrent infections and immune dysregulation, often increasing the risk of
malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the quality of life, depression, and
anxiety in parents of children with PID.
Methods: Various validated assessmenttools, including theBeck Depression Inventory
(BDI), State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF36), and a demographic form, were employed to gather data from 85 parents of 64
PID patients and 85 parents of 75 healthy children.
Results: The findings reveal that parents of PID patients exhibited higher BDI, STAI-S,
STAI-T, and fatigue subdomain of SF-36 (p= .013, p= .013, p= .027, p= .000). Both
parents had lower energy levels than the normal population, but mothers experienced
higher levels of anxiety and depression. PID mothers' had higher scores than fathers
of PID patients with healthy children in BDI, STAI-S, and STAI-T (p= .002, p= .010,
p= .001). Mothers of PID patients reported lower scores in RLEP, E/F, EWB, P, and
GH compared to fathers (p= .009, p= .005, p= .034, p= .001, p= .003). Additionally,
the study found that STAI-T influenced all subdimensions of HRQOL. These results
highlight the substantial emotional and psychological burden placed on parents caring
for children with PID.
Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of supporting caregivers to enhance the overall well-being of both parents and children with PID. Such support can
potentially alleviate depression and anxiety levels among parents, ultimately improving their quality of life and aiding in the management of children with PID.
