Abstract
Purpose :
Adults with vision impairment (VI) have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to those without VI. However, less is known about whether those with VI have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors. We describe the relationship between VI and CVD risk factors in US adults.
Methods :
We used cross-sectional, nationally representative data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey of US noninstitutionalized civilians; data are self-reported. The analysis included 23,071 adults aged ≥18 years with data on CVD, CVD risk factors, and VI (defined as having trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses). By VI status, we describe the prevalence of CVD, defined as coronary heart disease, angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, or other heart disease. Generalized linear regression models with Poisson distribution and log link were used to generate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) for those with VI (reference: no VI) for CVD and seven CVD risk factors: current smoking, physical inactivity, excessive alcohol intake, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Models for each outcome controlled for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, employment, income, and health insurance.
Results :
Participants’ average age was 47.3 years (95% CI: 47.0, 47.7); 51.6% (CI: 50.8, 52.4) were female; 12.9% (CI: 12.3, 13.5) had VI. Crude prevalence of CVD was 26.5% (CI: 24.6, 28.5) in those with VI and 12.1% (CI: 11.6, 12.7) in those without VI (aPR=1.64 [CI: 1.48, 1.76]). Compared to adults without VI, those with VI had a greater number of CVD risk factors (Figure 1) and a higher prevalence for all seven CVD risk factors: current smoking (aPR=1.36 [CI: 1.24, 1.48]), physical inactivity (aPR=1.13 [CI: 1.05, 1.20]), excessive alcohol intake (aPR=1.29 [CI: 1.08, 1.54]), obesity (aPR=1.26 [CI: 1.19, 1.34]), hypertension (aPR=1.24 [CI: 1.18, 1.31]), high cholesterol (aPR=1.17 [CI: 1.11, 1.24]), and diabetes (aPR=1.46 [CI: 1.32, 1.63]).
Conclusions :
Adults with VI had a higher prevalence of CVD and CVD risk factors compared to those without VI. Reducing CVD risk in adults with VI requires effective clinical and lifestyle interventions, adapted to accommodate VI-related disability, to aid in the prevention and management of CVD.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.