188800 Socioeconomic Position and Poor Eye Health among Women With and Without Diabetes. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2006

Monday, October 27, 2008: 8:30 AM

Keri Norris, PhD , Epidemiology & Statistics Branch, Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Gloria L.A. Beckles, MD, MSc , Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD , Vision Health Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jinan B. Saaddine , National Vision Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and poor eye health among women with and without diabetes.

DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of 20,833 women aged ≥40 years and resident in the 7 states that participated in the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey and used the optional diabetes and vision modules. Poor eye health was defined by self-reports of having: cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, workplace eye injury, or visual impairment. SEP was measured by education attained and annual household income. Diabetes status was self reported. Logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for women with and without diabetes, while controlling for demographic, clinical, behavioral and access variables.

RESULTS: Age-adjusted prevalence of poor eye health was greater among women with diabetes than among those without diabetes (63% vs. 40.1%; p<0.05). Women with diabetes who have not completed high school or live in households with annual income less than $15,000 have higher prevalence of poor eye health than those in higher SEP groups. After multivariate adjustment, among women with diabetes, income of $15,000-24,999 was significantly associated with poor eye health (OR, 1.7, p=.05); however, among women without diabetes, SEP was associated with poor eye health (education (HS) OR, 1.21, p=.03; income (LT $15,000) OR, 1.58, p<.0.001, income ($15,000-$24,999) OR, 1.42, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Women with diabetes are more likely than women without diabetes to have poor eye health. SEP may play different roles in the eye health of women with and without diabetes.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize socioeconomic position as being relevant to women's eye health 2. Describe behavioral, clinical and access issues that may influence women's eye health for diabetic and non-diabetic women 3. Discuss how to implement findings into eye health programs in the United States

Keywords: Diabetes, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the priary person who completed the analyses and writing. I have presented at APHA befoer and my educational training/experience are relevant to the topic.
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.

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