Abstract
Purpose::
To describe predictors of visual impairment in an urban Malay adult population in Singapore.
Methods::
A population-based, cross-sectional study of 3,280 (78.7%) Malay persons aged 40-80 years residing in Singapore. An age-stratified random sample of 5,600 Malay names residing in south-western Singapore (1,400 from each age decade) was selected from a national database. Participants had a standardized interview and examination at a centralized clinic . Presenting and best-corrected LogMAR visual acuity (VA) was measured and visual impairment was defined as VA<0.30 (20/40) and >1.00 (20/200).
Results::
Of the 3,273 with presenting VA data, 790 (24.1%) who were visually impaired. Older age was a predictor of presenting visual impairment (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% CI 2.1, 2.5, per decade age increase). While controlling for age, women were twice as likely to be visually impaired than men (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.6, 2.4). While controlling for age and gender, visual impairment was associated with place of birth (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1, 2.8, Indonesia vs Singapore), education (OR, 2.8, 95% CI 2.0, 3.9, formal education vs high school/tertiary education), occupation (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3, 3.7, retired/unemployed vs professional occupation), housing type (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3, 2.4, 1-2 public flats vs 5 room flats/private housing), smoking status (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.9, current vs never smokers), systolic blood pressure (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3, 2.2 4th vs 1st quartile), body mass index (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2, 2.0, 1st vs 4th quartile ) and serum creatinine levels (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0, 1.8). Of the 3269 with best-corrected VA data, 263 (8.0%) were visually impaired. Predictors of visual impairment after best correction were similar.
Conclusions::
In this Singapore Malay population, older age, female gender, lower socio-economic status, lower body mass index, and cigarette smoking were predictors of visual impairment