Abstract
Purpose :
To explore associations between sensory (vision and/or hearing) impairment and COVID-19 infection and its prevention strategies in the 2021 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).
Methods :
This was a cross-sectional study using the data from 2021 CHIS, the nation’s largest state health survey. The exposure of interest was sensory impairment, defined as answering “Yes” to the survey question, “Are you blind or deaf, or do you have a severe vision or hearing problem?” The primary outcome was suspected or diagnosed COVID-19. Secondary outcomes included adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as vaccination, face covering adherence, maintaining 6 feet distance, and gathering with non-household members. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between sensory impairment, COVID-19, and adherence to mitigation strategies, controlling age, sex, race and ethnicity, general health status, and household income. All analyses were weighted according to the CHIS sampling design.
Results :
A sample of 24,453 CA adult participants were included representing a population size of 29,649,837. The weighted prevalence of sensory impairment was 6.1%. Approximately 20.6% of all respondents had or suspected to have COVID-19. Compared to adults without sensory impairment, those with sensory impairment had increased odds of COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1.18, 95%CI:0.94-1.49) and of never maintaining 6 feet distance from others when outside their home (aOR:1.80, 95%CI:1.03-3.13). Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in adherence to most COVID-19 mitigation strategies, including vaccination, masking, handwashing, or gathering with non-household members.
Conclusions :
In the 2021 CHIS adult population, individuals with hearing and/or vision impairment had an increased likelihood of suspected or diagnosed COVID-19. Though there was no difference in adhering to most prevention strategies for COVID-19, physical distancing may be more difficult for those with sensory impairment. Further studies are needed to explore risk reduction strategies for COVID-19 for those with sensory impairment.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.