Socioeconomic disparities in sensory impairment exist among US working-age adults independent of diabetes status

Background: Socioeconomic position (SEP) is inversely associated with sensory impairment and diabetes among older adults. Diabetes is associated with sensory impairment and has increased steeply among adults of working-age.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between SEP and sensory impairment among working-age adults and determine whether the association differs by diabetes status.

Method: We used data from 21,824 adults 25-64 years participating in the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Sensory impairment was defined by self-reported visual or hearing impairment. SEP was categorized according to the U.S. Standard Occupational Classification system: white-collar, service group, farm worker, blue-collar, and not in labor force. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to estimate odds ratios for the association between SEP and sensory impairment, controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, family income, nativity, marital status, health status, number of eye diseases, diabetes status, hypertension, smoking, insurance coverage, usual source of care, and doctor visits.

Results: Nearly 20% of respondents reported having sensory impairment. We found SEP disparities in sensory impairment. Compared to white-collar workers, the adjusted odds of sensory impairment were significantly higher for blue-collar workers (OR=1.35 95%CI=1.17-1.56), farm workers (OR=1.41 95%CI=1.03-1.92), and persons not in the labor-force (OR=1.23 95%CI=1.08-1.41); p<0.05 for all. People with diabetes were more likely to report having sensory impairment than those without diabetes (OR=1.36 95%CI=1.12-166).We found no interaction between SEP and diabetes.

Conclusions: Socioeconomic disparities in sensory impairment exist among U.S. working-age adults, regardless of diabetes status. More research may be needed to understand the relationship between SEP and sensory impairment.