Abstract
Purpose :
Self-reported visual disability (SRVD) is an important indicator of the perceived impact of vision on an individual’s life. The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) is an ongoing, nationally-representative panel study of late-life disability. Using survey items with binary response options, we sought to develop an ordinal indicator of SRVD in NHATS in order to improve measurement precision and facilitate future studies of disability trajectories related to vision in older adults.
Methods :
Sociodemographic factors, medical comorbidities, SRVD, functional activity scores (mobility, self-care, household activity), and a subjective well-being scale were assessed in NHATS. Participants were asked questions (yes/no) to assess vision: blindness; sight adequate to recognize someone across the street; sight adequate to read newspaper print; use of glasses or corrective lenses; and use of any low vision aid (LVA). We categorized participants into one of six ordinal groups: 1) Blind; 2) Near and distance SRVD without use of LVA; 3) Near and distance SRVD with LVA; 4) Near or distance SRVD without LVA; 5) Near or distance SRVD with LVA; or 6) No SRVD. Multivariable Poisson regression models were used to assess convergent validity of the SRVD scale with functional activity (household, self-care, mobility) and subjective wellbeing scores.
Results :
7061 Individuals, age 65 years or older were included in this analysis. Weighted percentages of individuals in each of the six ordinal SRVD categories, and weighted mean functional activity and wellbeing scores by vision category are shown in Table 1. In models adjusted for sociodemographic and medical comorbidities, worse SRVD was significantly associated with lower scores for mobility (p<0.0001), self-care (p<0.0001), household activity (p<0.0001), and subjective wellbeing (p<0.0001) (Figure 1).
Conclusions :
More severe SRVD on this novel scale was associated with worse scores for mobility, self-care, household activities, and subjective wellbeing among aging adults. This scale provides a new tool to capture the range of impacts that poor vision may have on the lives of older adults in a nationally-representative cohort. Use of this scale may facilitate analyses of the impact of SRVD on late-life disability trajectories.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.