Abstract
Purpose: :
To identify risk indicators associated with incident visual impairment in adult Latinos.
Methods: :
The LALES is a longitudinal, population-based assessment of a cohort of 4,658 urban Latinos aged 40 years and older. Participants underwent comprehensive ophthalmological examinations at baseline and at four year follow-up, including visual acuity measurements using standardized protocols. Visual impairment was defined as best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)<20/40 and >20/200 in the better-seeing eye, and worsening vision as a decrease of ≥10 letters read correctly. A small sample size for incident blindness precluded risk factor analysis.Baseline socio-demographic and clinical variables examined included: age, gender, country of birth, acculturation, working status, years of education, marital status, income, insurance coverage, comorbidities, self-reported poor health and vision, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and any ocular disease. Independent risk indicators for visual impairment and worsening vision were determined using univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression and odds ratios (OR) were calculated.
Results: :
There were 55 (1.2%) cases of incident visual impairment. Independent risk indicators of visual impairment were older age [70-79 years, OR=4.75, 80 years and older, OR=17.92] being unemployment [OR=3.51], being retired [OR=3.36], and having diabetes mellitus [OR=2.23] [all P<0.05]. Independent indicators of worsening vision were older age [60-69 years, OR=3.16; 70-79 years, OR=4.74, 80 years and older, OR=7.99], having diabetes mellitus [OR=1.84], and having a history of eye disease [OR=1.77] [all P<0.05].
Conclusions: :
Our data highlight certain groups of Latinos who are at higher risk of developing visual impairment and vision loss. Interventions that prevent, treat, and focus on these factors may reduce the burden of eye disease in this fastest growing segment of the US population.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence