Abstract
Purpose :
Data on population-based self-reported dual vision and hearing impairment are missing in Europe. This study aimed to investigate Self-reported dual sensory impairment (DSI) in European population.
Methods :
A standardized questionnaire was used to collect medical and socio-economic data among individuals aged 15 years or more in 28 European countries in addition to Iceland and Norway. People living in collective households or in institutions were excluded from the survey. People were considered as suffering from DSI if they declared to have some difficulties, a lot of difficulties or not to be able to see and to hear even when using glasses or contact lenses or hearing aids.
Results :
296,677 individuals (54.18% women) were included in the survey. The overall prevalence of self-reported DSI was of 3.77% [3.68 - 3.86]. Among them, 3.39% [3.27 - 3.52] of men, 4.13 [4.00 - 4.26] of women and 10.17% [9.91 - 10.43] of individuals aged 60 or more had DSI. Eastern and Southern countries had a higher prevalence of self-reported DSI than Western and Northern countries with values of 4.88% [4.71 - 5.05] and 4.50 [4.33 - 4.66], respectively. Multivariate analyse showed that social isolation and self-rated health status were associated with self-reported DSI with ORs of 1.98 [1.77 - 2.22] and 2.36 [2.18 - 2.55]. On the opposite, higher income was associated with lower self-reported DSI (OR of 0.83 [0.78 - 0.89]).
Conclusions :
There are important differences in terms of prevalence of self-reported DSI in Europe, depending on socio-economic and medical factors. Prevention of DSI does represent an important issue for maintening quality of life in elderly population.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.