273240 Depression and Vision Loss Are Associated in Young, Middle-aged, and Older Adults in the United States, NHANES 2005-2008

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Xinzhi Zhang , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Kai Bullard, PhD , Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Mary Frances Cotch, PhD , National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Barry Rovner, MD , Departments of Psychiatry & Neurology, Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, Philadelphia, PA
Gerald McGwin, MS, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Cynthia Owsley, PhD, MSPH , Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Lawrence Barker, PhD , Office of the Director, CDC, NCCDPHP, Division of Diabetes Translation, Atlanta, GA
John E. Crews, DPA , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Jinan B. Saaddine, MD, MPH , National Vision Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Objectives: To estimate and compare, in a national survey of US adults aged 20+ years, the prevalence of depression among adults reporting visual function loss and those with visual acuity impairment. Design, Setting, and Participants: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2008, a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample, with prevalence estimates weighted to represent the civilian, non-institutionalized U. S. population. Main Outcome Measurements: Depression as measured by Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale Results: In 2005-2008, the estimated crude prevalence of depression was 10.0% (95% CI, 8.2%-12.1%) among US adults with self-reported visual function loss and 4.1 % (95% CI, 3.4%-5.0%) among adults without. The estimated prevalence of depression was 8.2% (95% CI, 5.2%-12.8%) among adults with presenting visual acuity impairment (visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye) compared with 5.9 % (95% CI, 5.0%-7.0%) among adults with normal visual acuity. After controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, living alone or not, education, income, health insurance, body mass index, smoking, binge drinking, general health status, chronic conditions, eyesight worry, and use of antidepressant medication, self-reported visual function loss was significantly associated with depression (overall OR, 1.61; 95% CI: 1.22-2.11). There was no statistically significant association between presenting visual acuity impairment and depression after controlling for these factors. Conclusions: Self-reported loss of visual function is significantly associated with depression. Health professionals should be aware of the potential increased risk of depression among persons reporting visual function loss.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the relationship between depression and vision loss; Demonstrate the use of national survey data to address questions related to vision loss prevention and eye health promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal of multiple federal projects on vision loss prevention and eye health promotion. I am the scientific lead for INSIGTH, a CDC project to assess barriers and enablers to improve access to and quality of eye care.
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.

Back to: 3071.0: Public Health Surveillance of Vision Health