274547 Severity of Vision Impairment and Health-Related Quality of Life among Community Residents aged ≥40 Years: Findings from the 2006-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 8:45 AM - 9:00 AM

John E. Crews, DPA , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Chiu-Fang Chou, Dr PH , The Vision Health Initiative, Division of Diabetes Translation/The Ginn Group, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD , Vision Health Initiative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Matthew M. Zack, MD, MPH , NCCDPHP, Division of Adult and Community Health, State Support, Arthritis, Epilepsy, and Quality of Life Branch, 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 examine the association between severity of vision impairment and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Method: We used responses from 162,786 adults aged ≥40 years in the 2006-2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We classified respondents as having no, little, and moderate/severe vision impairment. We examined the association between severity of visual impairment and self-reported HRQoL, including fair or poor self-rated health, physically unhealthy days, mentally unhealthy days, activity limitation days, life dissatisfaction, and disability using logistic regression to adjust for socio-economic variables, multiple chronic conditions, smoking status, exercise, and body-mass index. We considered differences statistically significant at p<0.05. Results: Compared to people with no vision loss, people with moderate/severe vision impairment had more fair or poor self-rated health, 14 or more physically unhealthy days, 14 or more mentally unhealthy days, 14 or more activity limitation days, life dissatisfaction, and disability. Compared to people with no vision impairment and after adjustment for potential confounders, people with moderate/severe vision impairment still reported significantly more fair or poor health (odds ratio [OR]=2.99; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.80-3.20), physically unhealthy days (OR=2.76; 95%CI=2.57-2.97), mentally unhealthy days (OR=3.13; 95%CI=2.89-3.44), activity limitation days (OR=2.31; 95%CI= 2.11-2.53), life dissatisfaction (OR=3.94; 95%CI=3.57-4.36), and disability (OR=2.70; 95%CI=2.54-2.87). Conclusions: Poorer HRQoL is associated with severity of vision impairment. It is crucial to identify and implement effective strategies to both improve HRQoL and improve vision among adults, especially among those with severe vision impairments.

Learning Areas:
Basic medical science applied in public health
Public health biology

Learning Objectives:
Explore the association between severity of vision impairment and health-related quality of life

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the scientist on vision and public health for over 20 years. My work at CDC has mainly focused on vision loss prevention and eye health promotion. I oversee several major cooperative agreements at CDC.
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