Caregiver Burden and In-Hospital Mortality in Older Adults: Insights from a Mexican Single-Center Latin American Study

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between caregiver burden and in-hospital mortality in older adults. Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted including 252 patients aged ≥ 65 years hospitalized at IMSS HGZ-UMF No. 2, Saltillo, Mexico (May–July 2025). Caregiver burden was classified with the Zarit Burden Interview as none, mild, or severe. In-hospital mortality was the main outcome. Analyses used χ² tests and Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Overall mortality was 22.6%. Mortality by burden was: none 10.4% (20/192), mild 48.6% (18/37), severe 82.6% (19/23); p < 0.001. After adjustment, mild burden had RR = 4.23 (95% CI 2.47–7.21; p < 0.001), severe burden RR = 5.88 (95% CI 3.58–9.67; p < 0.001). Each additional year of age increased mortality risk by 3.5% (RR = 1.035; 95% CI 1.012–1.058; p = 0.003). Conclusions: Caregiver burden was independently associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Systematic caregiver assessment should be considered in geriatric practice.