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Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and burden of morbidity associated with self-reported hearing and vision impairments in older British community-dwelling men: a cross-sectional study

Liljas, AEM; Wannamethee, SG; Whincup, PH; Papacosta, O; Walters, K; Iliffe, S; Lennon, LT; ... Ramsay, SE; + view all (2015) Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and burden of morbidity associated with self-reported hearing and vision impairments in older British community-dwelling men: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Public Health , 38 (2) e21-e28. 10.1093/pubmed/fdv095. Green open access

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Abstract

Background: Hearing and vision problems are common in older adults. We investigated the association of self-reported sensory impairment with lifestyle factors, chronic conditions, physical functioning, quality of life and social interaction. / Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study of participants of the British Regional Heart Study aged 63–85 years. / Results: A total of 3981 men (82% response rate) provided data. Twenty-seven per cent (n = 1074) reported hearing impairment including being able to hear with aid (n = 482), being unable to hear (no aid) (n = 424) and being unable to hear despite aid (n = 168). Three per cent (n = 124) reported vision impairment. Not being able to hear, irrespective of use of hearing aid, was associated with poor quality of life, poor social interaction and poor physical functioning. Men who could not hear despite hearing aid were more likely to report coronary heart disease (CHD) [age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) 1.89 (95% confidence interval 1.36–2.63)]. Vision impairment was associated with symptoms of CHD including breathlessness [OR 2.06 (1.38–3.06)] and chest pain [OR 1.58 (1.07–2.35)]. Vision impairment was also associated with poor quality of life, poor social interaction and poor physical functioning. / Conclusions: Sensory impairment is associated with poor physical functioning, poor health and poor social interaction in older men. Further research is warranted on pathways underlying these associations.

Type: Article
Title: Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and burden of morbidity associated with self-reported hearing and vision impairments in older British community-dwelling men: a cross-sectional study
Location: UK
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdv095
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdv095
Language: English
Additional information: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Public Health following peer review. The version of record, Liljas, AEM; Wannamethee, SG; Whincup, PH; Papacosta, O; Walters, K; Iliffe, S; Lennon, LT; (2015) Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and burden of morbidity associated with self-reported hearing and vision impairments in older British community-dwelling men: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Public Health, is available online at: http://dx/doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdv095
Keywords: Sensory impairments, hearing, vision, older adults, ageing
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute of Epidemiology and Health > Primary Care and Population Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1473181
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