Relación entre la pérdida sensorial y la capacidad funcional en personas mayores de 89 años. Estudio NonaSantfeliu

Abstract

Objective alterations in the sense organs are frequent in the elderly. Our aim was to analyze the status of visual function and hearing in nonagenarians in order to evaluate the relationship between sensory impairment and the ability to perform basic or instrumental activities of daily life. Material and methods data were obtained from the NonaSantfeliu population-based study: sociodemograhic variables were collected. Functional status was determined by the Lawton-Brody Index (LI) and Barthel Index (BI) and cognition by the Spanish version of the Mental State Examination (Miniexamen cognitivo de Lobo [MEC]). Comorbidity was evaluated using the Charlson Index. Near visual acuity was evaluated by the Snellen test, and auditory acuity was assessed with the whisper test. Results the sample was composed of 186 nonagerians, with a mean age of 93.06 (3.1) years; 76.5% were women. Seventy-four percent lived at home and the remainder lived in nursing homes. Visual impairment was found in 38%, and hearing impairment in 40%. Combined visual and hearing impairment was found in 18% and devices to correct both impairments were required in 5.3%. Nonagenarians with visual or combined impairment had poor LI, BI and MEC values. In multivariate analyses a lower LI was associated with visual impairment (p < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 1.859, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.441-2.398) and combined impairment (p < 0.001, OR = 1.995, 95% CI 1.320-3.016). Conclusions impairment of vision and hearing ability are common in nonagenarians. The ability to perform instrumental activities of daily life is decreased due to visual and combined sensory impairment in this population.