The effects of comorbidites among older people with vision impairment

Abstract

This study uses the 1994 Health Interview Survey Supplement on Aging to identify the effects of comorbid conditions upon older people who report vision problems. The Supplement on Aging is a longitudinal survey of US non-institutionalized older people (≥70); the sample size is 9447. A summary vision variable was created to identify vision loss. In addition, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (World Health Organization, International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, Author, Geneva, 2001) was employed as a conceptual framework to portray the multidimensional characteristics of older people, and it creates activity limitations and participation restrictions as outcome measures. This paper examines the effect of depression, broken hip, and diabetes upon older visually impaired people compared to those without these conditions. Outcome measures include bathing, preparing meals, buying groceries, going places, visiting friends, phoning friends, and eating out. The findings indicate that vision impairment alone creates limitations in activity performance and participation measures. However, vision loss in combination with the comorbid conditions of depression, broken hip, and diabetes indicated substantially greater effects in the outcomes measures. Parentages, odds ratios, and confidence intervals are calculated. The paper suggests that efforts to treat and prevent comorbid conditions would have the potential to improve performance of people experiencing vision loss.