Abstract
Purpose :
To compare the proportion of persons with and without vision impairment (VI) reporting social determinant of health (SDOH) risk factors and health equity (HE) disparities using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). To describe population characteristics associated with those reporting VI and SDOH risk factors.
Methods :
Data were extracted from the 2022 BRFSS for the 39 states, District of Columbia, and 2 territories that administered the optional Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity (SDOH/HE) Module. Self-report of difficulty seeing with best correction was used for the VI case definition. Ten questions in the SDOH/HE Module were used to assess risk factors and health disparities. Responses were compared between the VI and non-VI cohorts using chi-square. Data were further stratified by demographic characteristics to identify disparities in vision impairment and SDOH/HE.
Results :
Overall, the VI cohort reported higher rates for each SDOH risk factors compared to those not reporting VI (chi square, p <0.001 for each comparison). This included higher rates of life dissatisfaction, difficulty getting social and emotional support, higher rates of social isolation, higher rates of unemployment, higher rates or receiving supplemental nutritional assistance, food insecurity, and difficulty paying mortgage/utility bills. 23.2% (95% CI 21.5-25.1%) of the VI cohort cited a lack of reliable transportation as barrier to attending medical appointments, meetings, work or other activities of daily living in the previous 12 months. 24.5% (95% CI 22.8-26.4%) of the VI cohort reported always or usually experiencing stress/anxiety over the previous 30 days. When stratified by age, risk factors were universally higher those aged 40-64 in the VI cohort compared to those aged 65+.
Conclusions :
National health surveillance data provide unique insight into the prevalence of VI and social determinants that are associated with health disparities. Responses to the SDHO/HE Module provide additional context and indicate that the VI population could benefit from interventions that require coordination beyond direct clinical care. The risks factors in the VI population also vary based on demographic characteristics.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.