May 2005
Volume 46, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2005
Impact of Sensory and Other Impairments on Quality of Life and Use of Services in an Older Population: The Blue Mountains Eye Study
E.–M. Chia; P. Mitchell; C. Huynh; W. Smith; E. Rochtchina; J. Wang; Blue Mountains Eye Study
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • E.–M. Chia
    Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
  • P. Mitchell
    Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
  • C. Huynh
    Surgery, University of Sydney, Concord, Australia
  • W. Smith
    Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
  • E. Rochtchina
    Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
  • J. Wang
    Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
  • Blue Mountains Eye Study
    Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  E. Chia, None; P. Mitchell, None; C. Huynh, None; W. Smith, None; E. Rochtchina, None; J. Wang, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NHMRC
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2005, Vol.46, 1909. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      User Alerts
      You are adding an alert for:
      Impact of Sensory and Other Impairments on Quality of Life and Use of Services in an Older Population: The Blue Mountains Eye Study
      You will receive an email whenever this article is corrected, updated, or cited in the literature. You can manage this and all other alerts in My Account
      The alert will be sent to:
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation
      Citation

      E.–M. Chia, P. Mitchell, C. Huynh, W. Smith, E. Rochtchina, J. Wang, Blue Mountains Eye Study; Impact of Sensory and Other Impairments on Quality of Life and Use of Services in an Older Population: The Blue Mountains Eye Study . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005;46(13):1909.

      Download citation file:

      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
    • Get Permissions
  • Supplements
Abstract

Abstract: : Background:The strong age–related increase of impairments in aging populations has generated concern about their cumulative impacts on health–related quality–of–life (HRQOL) and use of health services. Purpose: The impact of four common impairments (vision, hearing, cognitive and mobility) were assessed in the second cross–sectional population–based Blue Mountains Eye Study (n=3509, mean age 66·7 years, 57% women). Methods: HRQOL was measured with the self–administered Short Form 36–item health survey (SF–36) summary physical and mental component scores (PCS and MCS, respectively). Visual impairment was defined as best–corrected visual acuity in the better eye worse than 6/12, hearing impairment as average pure–tone air conduction hearing threshold >25dB over four frequencies in the range 500–4000 Hz in the better ear and cognitive impairment as Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score <24/30.Trained examiners determined if participants had mobility impairments (walking difficulties, use of a cane/crutches, walker or wheelchair). Results: Although persons with any of the four impairments had significantly poorer PCS and MCS than corresponding persons without, the presence of two or more impairments was associated with a cumulative linear decline in HRQOL. Successive addition of each impairment was associated with a decrease of 4.0 in the PCS and 2.1 in the MCS, respectively. Age– and sex–adjusted odds significantly and exponentially increased from none to four impairments for the regular use of community support services (1.0, 7.4, 24.9, 47.4 respectively) but these odds were not significant for outpatient attendance or hospital admission within the previous 12 months. Conclusions: The coexistence of two or more common impairments had a linearly cumulative detrimental impact on HRQOL and exponentially increased the likelihood for use of community support services. These data support the need for community support for impaired older individuals to maintain independent living and minimise the growing burden of age–related impairments in ageing populations.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology 
© 2005, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.Accept