Abstract
Purpose :
An epidemiological update of associations for blindness or visual impairment (VI) within the adolescent demographic has not recently been conducted. This retrospective cohort analysis of the latest NSDUH reveals characteristics associated with self-reported VI within the adolescent demographic.
Methods :
The NSDUH2020, a publicly available, federally validated database, was analyzed. VI was defined as subjects who self-reported being blind or having serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses. Inclusion criteria were all cases of VI in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. NSDUH weights were used to accommodate complex survey design, nonresponse, and population variance. Weighted percentages, asymptotic two-sided Rao-Scott Chi-square analyses, and binary logistic regression were performed. Statistical significance was considered achieved at p<0.05.
Results :
A total of N=5667 adolescents were surveyed. VI occurred in 236 cases (weighted percentage 3.48%). Characteristics associated with visual impairment based on a multivariate logistic regression analysis were female sex, Asian American or Latino race/ethnicity (Non-Hispanic White as the reference), history of arrest (including DUI), and reported serious difficulty hearing and concentrating (all p<0.05). Income level/poverty status was not correlated.
Conclusions :
This national retrospective analysis highlights risk factors associated with VI for adolescents within the 2020 NSDUH, including female sex, Asian American / Latino ethnicities, history of arrest, and those with serious difficulty hearing and thinking. Clinicians and policymakers may utilize at-risk demographics for VI for development and enhancement of focused screening programs, population health initiatives, and healthcare policy issues.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.