Abstract
Purpose :
Cognitive impairment (CI) and vision impairment (VI) predominantly affect older people. Cognition and vision are positively associated in various prior cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. India is experiencing demographic and socioeconomic changes, and the proportion of elderly individuals living in homes for the aged is increasing. This study investigates the association between CI and VI among the elderly population living in residential homes in Hyderabad, India.
Methods :
Residents aged ≥60 years were recruited from residential homes for the aged in Hyderabad, India. The Hindi Mini-Mental Status Examination (HMSE) questionnaire was used to assess cognitive function. The final HMSE score was calculated after excluding vision-dependent tasks (HMSE-VI). A detailed eye examination was conducted, including visual acuity measurement for distance and near vision, using a standard logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) chart under good illumination. CI was defined as having an HMSE-VI score of ≤17. VI was defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 20/40 in the better-seeing eye.
Results :
Among the 965 participants included in the analyses, the mean age (standard deviation) was 74.3 (±8.3) years (range: 60-97 years). There were 612 (63.4%) women; 593 (61.5%) participants had school education. The prevalence of CI was 26.9% (95% CI: 24.1–29.9; n=260). On multiple logistic regression analyses, the odds of CI were higher among those in the 70-79 and ≥80 age groups compared to those in the 60-69 age group. Women had a two-fold risk of CI compared to men. Similarly, the elderly residents with school education and no formal education had a 3-fold and 32-fold increase in the risk of CI respectively compared to those with higher levels of education. Participants with VI were three times more likely to have CI compared to those without VI, independent of demographic and socioeconomic factors.
Conclusions :
One out of every four elderly individuals living in residential homes for the aged in Hyderabad had poor cognitive function. CI was significantly associated with VI after adjusting for potential confounders. Interventions to address VI might be a viable approach to improve cognitive function, and thus quality of life and well-being of elderly residents in residential care.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.