@article {Boyd2845, author = {Kelly Boyd and Victoria Winslow and Soo Borson and Stacy Tessler Lindau and Jennifer A. Makelarski}, title = {Caregiving in a Pandemic: Health-Related Socioeconomic Vulnerabilities Among Women Caregivers Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic}, elocation-id = {2845}, year = {2022}, doi = {10.1370/afm.2845}, publisher = {The Annals of Family Medicine}, abstract = {PURPOSE Family and friends who provide regular care for a sick or dependent individual ({\textquotedblleft}caregivers{\textquotedblright}) are at increased risk of health-related socioeconomic vulnerabilities (HRSVs). This study examined pre-pandemic prevalence of and early pandemic changes in HRSVs among women caregivers compared with non-caregivers.METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2020 (early pandemic) with 3,200 English-speaking US women aged 18 years or older, 30\% of whom identified as caregivers. We modeled adjusted odds of self-reported HRSVs (financial strain, food/housing insecurity, interpersonal violence, transportation/utilities difficulties) before and changes during the early pandemic by caregiving status. Models were adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, number of people in household, number of children in household, physical and mental health, and number of comorbidities.RESULTS Pre-pandemic, 63\% of caregivers and 47\% of non-caregivers reported 1 or more vulnerability (P \<.01); food insecurity was most prevalent (48\% of caregivers vs 33\% of non-caregivers, P \<.01). In the early pandemic, caregivers had higher odds than non-caregivers of financial strain, both incident (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.1; 95\% CI, 1.6-2.7) and worsening (AOR = 2.0; 95\% CI, 1.4-2.8); incident interpersonal violence (AOR = 2.0; 95\% CI, 1.5 -2.7); incident food insecurity (AOR = 1.6; 95\% CI, 1.2-2.1); incident transportation difficulties (AOR = 1.9; 95\% CI, 1.3-2.6); and incident housing insecurity (AOR = 1.6; 95\% CI, 1.1-2.3).CONCLUSION The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased risk of incident and worsening HRSVs for caregivers more than for non-caregivers. COVID-19 response and recovery efforts should target caregivers to reduce modifiable HRSVs and promote the health of caregivers and those who depend on them.}, issn = {1544-1709}, URL = {https://www.annfammed.org/content/early/2022/08/30/afm.2845}, eprint = {https://www.annfammed.org/content/early/2022/08/30/afm.2845.full.pdf}, journal = {The Annals of Family Medicine} }