The associations between self-rated vision and hearing and functional status in middle age.

TitleThe associations between self-rated vision and hearing and functional status in middle age.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsLee, PP, Smith, JP, Kington, R
JournalOphthalmology
Volume106
Issue2
Pagination401-5
Date Published1999 Feb
ISSN Number0161-6420
KeywordsCross-Sectional Studies, Female, health, Health Status, Health Surveys, Hearing Disorders, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care, Quality of Life, Self Disclosure, Vision Disorders
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the associations between self-reported visual and hearing impairment and an index of global functional status among community-dwelling, middle-aged Americans.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 9744 U.S. community-dwelling persons 51 to 61 years of age participated.

METHODS: Multivariate analyses of functional status based on cross-sectional data from Wave I (1992) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), controlling for demographic and socioeconomic status, common chronic medical conditions, and general health status, were performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A global index of functional status based on self-reported limitations in 17 activities was measured.

RESULTS: Approximately 3% of respondents in the HRS rated their vision or hearing as poor. Even after controlling for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, medical conditions, and general health status, limitations in both vision and hearing were independently correlated with worse functional status. In addition, controlling for income, wealth, and education reduced the strength of the associations between vision and hearing impairment and function, but did not eliminate them. The magnitude of effect of poor vision exceeded all medical conditions except stroke.

CONCLUSIONS: Visual and hearing impairment appear to have a significant relationship with overall functional status, among even community-dwelling, middle-aged Americans and even after controlling for general health status, medical comorbidities, and socioeconomic status.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9951498?dopt=Abstract
DOI10.1016/S0161-6420(99)90082-9
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9951498?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Cross Sectional Studies/Female/Health Status/Health Surveys/Hearing Disorders/Complications/Middle Age/Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care)/Quality of Life/Self Disclosure/Support, Non U.S. Government/Support, U.S. Government--PHS/Vision Disorders/Complications

Endnote ID

4100

Alternate JournalOphthalmology
Citation Key6639
PubMed ID9951498
Grant ListR01 AG013196 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
5PO-AG08291 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States