Trends in reported visual impairment in United States adults

Self-reported glaucoma prevalence and related factors, contribution to reported visual impairment, and functional burden in a cross-sectional study in Colombia

PURPOSE

Describe the self-reported prevalence of glaucoma in Colombian older adults, emphasizing the most important risk factors and associated daily-life functional alterations.

METHODS

This a secondary analysis of the Health, Wellness, and Aging survey conducted in the year 2015. Diagnosis of glaucoma was obtained from self-report. Functional variables were assessed through activities of daily living questionnaires. A descriptive analysis followed by bivariate and multivariate regression models adjusting for confounding variables was conducted.

RESULTS

Self-reported prevalence of glaucoma was 5.67%, with higher rate in women, OR 1.22 (1.13-1.40) p = .003, older age OR 1.02 (1.01-1.02) p < .001, and with higher education OR 1.38 (1.28-1.50) p < .001. Glaucoma was independently associated with diabetes OR 1.37 (1.18-1.61) p  < .001 and hypertension 1.26 (1.08-1.46) p = .003. It also showed statistically significant correlations with poor SRH OR 1.15 (1.02-1.32) p < .001, self-reported visual impairment 1.73 (1.50-2.01) p < .001, and impairment in money management OR 1.59 (1.16-2.08) p  = .002, grocery shopping OR 1.57 (1.26-1.96) p < .001 and preparing meals OR 1.31 (1.06-1.63) p  = .013 and having had falls during the last year OR 1.14 (1.01-1.31) p = 0.041.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest the self-reported prevalence of glaucoma in older adults in Colombia to be higher than reported data. Glaucoma and visual impairment in older adults represent a public health concern, since glaucoma was associated with adverse outcomes like functional loss and risk of falling, affecting the quality of life and their participation in society.

Trends in the prevalence of vision impairment among the oldest-old Chinese population from 1998 to 2018

Background

Vision impairment has become a prominent public health issue worldwide. However, little is known about vision impairment prevalence trends among the oldest-old adults in China. This study aimed to examine 20-year trends in the prevalence of vision impairment among the oldest-old Chinese adults and explore the contributions of sociodemographic variables, health behaviours, and chronic conditions to the trends.

Methods

This retrospective longitudinal study used data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey during 1998-2018. A total of 45 849 participants aged ≥80 years at study entry were included. Vision impairment was assessed by an adapted Landolt-C chart at each wave. We examined unadjusted and adjusted nonlinear trends using generalized estimating equation models incorporating a natural cubic spline. We conducted linear regression models to estimate absolute annual prevalence changes and determine the contributions of sociodemographic variables, health behaviours, and chronic conditions to the trends.

Results

The fully adjusted prevalence doubled from 5.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.1%-6.0%) in 1998 to 10.7% (95% CI = 9.9%-11.5%) in 2011 and slightly increased to 11.1% (95% CI = 10.3%-12.0%) in 2018 among the oldest-old Chinese population. Glaucoma, cataracts, cognitive impairment, hearing impairment, and urban residence were significant contributors to changes in vision impairment prevalence during 1998-2018. Differences in vision impairment prevalence associated with glaucoma and cataracts narrowed since 2005. Disparities in the trends among cognitively impaired and unimpaired older adults remained unchanged over time. Similar results were observed in older people with and without hearing impairment.

Conclusions

Vision impairment prevalence among the oldest-old Chinese population increased from 1998 to 2011 and remained stable from 2011 to 2018. Future work is needed to improve the prevention and management of chronic diseases associated with vision impairment to reduce its prevalence.

The prevalence of disability among people with cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and/or diabetes: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease are noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that cause extensive social and economic burden worldwide, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. There is growing recognition of the importance of the disabilities that individuals experience as a consequence of these NCDs.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review examined the prevalence of disabilities associated with cancer, CVD, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CIRRIE, WHO database, LILACS and AIM. Studies were included if their samples were representative of people with at least one of these four conditions and if prevalence estimates of disability were provided. As random sampling was not feasible in the majority of cases, studies were included where they offered evidence that their sample was representative of the general population being investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 105 articles were included in the review. Most studies were conducted in high-income countries. The prevalence of difficulties with activities of daily living (i.e. eating, bathing, dressing) was reported to be 10.4-34.5% amongst cancer survivors, 21.1-64.1% in those with CVD, 7.4-49.8% in those with chronic respiratory disease and 12.2-54.5% for those with diabetes. The prevalence of a range of other physical, cognitive and psychological impairments (systemic or structural) was additionally described for each disease.

CONCLUSION

Substantial proportions of people with cancer, CVD, chronic respiratory disease or diabetes experience some form of disability - although there was great variance in prevalence and definitions. The findings of this review support the evidence base of global impact associated with NCD, indicate frequency measures for specific disabilities and inabilities associated with each NCD and provide direction for future systematic reviews.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE TOPIC

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS.

Changes in Visual Function in the Elderly Population in the United States: 1995-2010

PURPOSE

To document recent trends in visual function among the United States population aged 70+ years and investigate how the trends can be explained by inter-temporal changes in: (1) population sociodemographic characteristics, and chronic disease prevalence, including eye diseases (compositional changes); and (2) effects of the above factors on visual function (structural changes).

METHODS

Data from the 1995 Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) and the 2010 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were merged with Medicare Part B claims in the interview years and the 2 previous years. Decomposition analysis was performed. Respondents from both studies were aged 70+ years. The outcome measure was respondent self-reported visual function on a 6-point scale (from 6 = blind to 1 = excellent).

RESULTS

Overall, visual function improved from slightly worse than good (3.14) in 1995 to slightly better than good (2.98) in 2010. A decline in adverse effects of aging on vision was found. Among the compositional changes were higher educational attainment leading to improved vision, and higher prevalence of such diseases as diabetes mellitus, which tended to lower visual function. However, compared to compositional changes, structural changes were far more important, including decreased adverse effects of aging, diabetes mellitus (when not controlling for eye diseases), and diagnosed glaucoma.

CONCLUSION

Although the US population has aged and is expected to age further, visual function improved among elderly persons, especially among persons 80+ years, likely reflecting a favorable role of structural changes identified in this study in mitigating the adverse effect of ongoing aging on vision.

Incidence of visual impairment over a 20-year period: the Beaver Dam Eye Study

PURPOSE

To describe visual impairment (VI) over a 20-year period and its associations with age-related eye diseases and socioeconomic factors in the Beaver Dam Eye Study.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Four thousand nine hundred twenty-six persons 43 to 86 years of age participated in the baseline examination phase from 1988 through 1990, and 3721, 2962, 2375, and 1913 persons participated in follow-up examinations each spaced 5 years apart from 1993 through 1995, 1998 through 2000, 2003 through 2005, and 2008 through 2010, respectively.

METHODS

Best-corrected visual acuity after refraction, assessed by the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study protocol.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Incidence of VI, defined as best-corrected visual acuity of poorer than 20/40 in the better eye in persons with one or both eyes 20/40 or better at the beginning of a 5-year interval, and incidence of severe VI, defined as best-corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye in persons with one or both eyes better than 20/200 at the beginning of a 5-year interval.

RESULTS

Overall incidence of VI between examinations (5-year interval) was 1.4% (varying from 0.1% in persons 50-54 years of age to 14.6% in those 85 years of age and older), whereas for severe VI it was 0.4% (varying from 0.0% in persons 50-54 years of age to 6.9% in those ≥ 85 years of age). The incidence of VI decreased for each (2003-2005 to 2008-2010; odds ratio fourth interval vs. first interval, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.87; P = 0.01 period after adjustment for age, from the first 5-year interval between examinations (1988-1990 to 1993-1995) to the fourth and most recent 5-year interval ). This period effect was no longer significant after adjustment for age-related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration remained the leading cause of incident severe VI (54% of eyes with incident severe VI, which was as low as 40% and as high as 57% for specific visits), with no evidence of a trend across visits. The overall frequency of VI correctable with new refraction was 38% of all eyes with VI.

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide population-based estimates that show a high (15%) 5-year incidence of VI in persons 85 years of age and older. Age-related macular degeneration remained the leading cause of severe VI in this population over the 20 years of the study.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Medical record validation of self-reported eye diseases and eye care utilization among older adults

PURPOSE

Vision impairment is an important public health concern. Accurate information regarding visual health and eye care utilization is essential to monitor trends and inform health policy interventions aimed at addressing at-need populations. National surveys provide annual prevalence estimates but rely on self-report. The validity of self-reported information regarding eye disease has not been adequately explored.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study compared self-report of eye care utilization and eye disease with information obtained from medical records. The study population was 2001 adults aged 70 years and older who completed the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System's Visual Impairment and Access to Eye Care Module. Cohen's kappa (κ) was used to assess agreement.

RESULTS

Agreement between self-report and medical records was substantial for eye care utilization (κ = 0.64) and glaucoma (κ = 0.73), moderate for macular degeneration (κ = 0.40) and diabetic retinopathy (κ = 0.47) and slight for cataracts (κ = 0.18). Self-report tended to overestimate the number of subjects who visited an eye care provider in the previous year, and underestimated the prevalence in all but one (glaucoma) of the four eye diseases evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

Though agreement was substantial for self-report of eye care utilization, results of the current study suggest that national estimates based on self-report overestimate eye care utilization.

Trends in self-reported visual impairment in the United States: 1984 to 2010

OBJECTIVE

To explore trends in the prevalence of self-reported visual impairment in the noninstitutionalized adult US population during the 27-year period from 1984 to 2010.

DESIGN

Data obtained from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) were used to analyze trends in the prevalence of self-reported visual impairment in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Representative, population-based samples of between 45 000 and 92 000 adults (NHIS) and between 37 000 and 71 000 adults (SIPP) during each year of data collection.

METHODS

Survey results were age-adjusted to a standard (2010) population. Sampling weights were used throughout the analysis using strata and primary sampling unit variables provided in the public use datasets to appropriately take into account the complex design of the surveys. The statistical significance of trends was estimated by computing the difference in chi-squares of a fit to a linear trendline and a fit without a trend.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The trends and percent change in the prevalence of visual impairment from 1984 to 1996 and from 1997 to 2010 for NHIS and 1984 to 2010 for SIPP.

RESULTS

On the basis of NHIS data, the prevalence of activity-limiting visual impairment among persons aged ≥65 years declined by 51.7% (P < 0.001), from 3.5% in 1984 to 1.7% in 1996, and by 45.8% (P < 0.001), from 3.1% in 1997 to 1.7% in 2010. On the basis of SIPP data, the prevalence of functional visual impairment in the same age category declined by 58.3% (P < 0.001), from 23.3% in 1984 to 9.7% in 2010, whereas the prevalence of severe functional impairment declined by 47.1% (P < 0.001), from 5.1% to 2.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

There was a marked reduction in the prevalence of self-reported visual impairment in the noninstitutionalized adult US population during the period from 1984 to 2010.

[Prevalence and burden of visual impairment in Catalonia, Spain]

The aim of this work is to determine the prevalence of visual impairment in Catalonia and analyze inequalities in vision. Cross sectional study in the population having ≥ 15 years of age (7,881 men and 8,045 women) based on data from the Encuesta de Salud de Cataluña 2006. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio by age, civil state, level of studies, income and working situation with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. A 4.7% (CI 95% 4.4-5.0) of the population of Catalonia, a 5.3% of female (CI 95% 4.8-5.8), and 4.1% of men (CI 95% 3.7-4.5) state that they have poor vision. The most unfavourable situations of self-reported poor vision by the Catalan population correspond to the elderly and women with lower levels of both studies and income.