Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the association between level of visual acuity, visual field loss (VFL) and self-reported falls in a population-based sample of adult Latinos.
Methods: :
Data for the analysis were collected as part of LALES, a population-based study of eye disease in Latinos living in Los Angeles, CA ages 40 years and older. Presenting binocular visual acuity was measured using a modified ETDRS protocol with results reported as the total number of letters read correctly and converted to a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution score. Visual field loss was determined in each eye using the Humphrey Field Analyzer II (SITA standard program) with results reported as mean deviation. Self-reported history of any falls in the prior 12 months was collected during the 4-year follow-up interview. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between Visual acuity loss, VFL and risk of falls after adjusting for other potential risk factors including age, gender, and number of co-morbidities.
Results: :
Of 3,202 LALES participants with complete clinical eye examination and interview data at 4-years of follow-up, 630 individuals reported a history of falls in the previous 12 months. In logistic regression analyses, age older than 70 years(Odds Ratio, 95% CI: 1.6, 1.1-2.2), female gender (OR, 95% CI: 1.5, 1.3-1.9), and having 1 or more systemic co-morbidities (Range of Odds Ratios 1.3-2.3) were independently associated with having a history of falls in the previous year. After adjusting for these risk factors, worse binocular visual acuity (Odds Ratio, 95% CI: 1.96, 1.1-3.5) and visual field loss also were independently associated with a higher risk of reporting a fall in the previous year. There was a monotonic trend of a greater risk of reporting falls with worse visual acuity and greater visual field loss.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications