176657 Prevalence of visual and hearing impairment among older US workers: The National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2004

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Evelyn P. Davila, MPH , Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Alberto J. Caban-Martinez, MPH , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
David J. Lee, PhD , Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - OHH Center and NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
William G. LeBlanc, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Byron L. Lam, MD , Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Kristopher L. Arheart, EdD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Kathryn E. McCollister, PhD , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Diane Zheng, MS , Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, Miami, FL
Sharon L. Christ, PhD , Purdue University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, West Lafayette, IN
Peter Muennig, MD, MPH , Columbia University, New York, NY
Kenneth F. Ferraro, PhD , Department of Sociology, and Center on Aging and the Life Course (CALC), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Background: Population aging and delayed job retirement are rapidly augmenting the number of older US workers, increasing the risk for workplace injuries due to their likely high prevalence of sensory impairment. The present study evaluated the proportion of older (>65 years of age) US workers reporting vision and/or hearing impairment by occupational groups.

Methods: Analyses of self-reported visual impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI), either VI or HI, and concurrent impairment (HI+VI) by occupation were conducted on 5,590 older workers representing approximately 3.9 million older US workers in the 1997-2004 nationally representative National Health Interview Survey.

Results: The majority of workers reported their race as White (86.5%) with approximately equal proportions of females and males. Nearly half of these workers reported having more than a high school education (46.8%). The overall prevalence rates of HI were approximately three times those of VI (33.4 % vs. 10.2%, respectively). The prevalence of VI+HI and either impairment was 5.2% and 38.4%, respectively. Relative to all workers Farm operators and managers had significantly higher prevalence rates of sensory impairment [HI (53.9%), either HI or VI (57.3%), and concurrent VI+HI (12.1%)]. Other groups with significantly higher prevalence of sensory impairment compared to all workers included: Mechanics and repairers [HI (46.6%), either HI or VI (53.1%)] and Motor vehicle operators [HI (36.4%), either HI or VI (45.7%)].

Conclusion: Given the greater risk for injuries among the sensory impaired and the high prevalence of sensory impairment among older workers, workplace screening and accommodations for older workers are warranted.

Learning Objectives:
1. Assess the overall prevalence of visual and/or hearing impairment among older US workers 2. Identify older US worker groups with greatest prevalence of visual and/or hearing impairment 3. Discuss the need for workplace accommodations for older workers in occupations identified as having the highest prevalence of visual and/or hearing impairment

Keywords: Workplace Safety, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have an academic background in Epidemiology and Public Health
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.