Self-reported comorbidities and visual function in a population-based study: the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Systemic and ocular comorbidities are prevalent in aging populations.
• Visual function is crucial for maintaining quality of life.
• Understanding the interplay between comorbidities and vision is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported systemic and ocular comorbid diseases and visual function.
• To identify the most impactful comorbidity measure on visual function in Latino subjects.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 5380 participants (40+ years) in the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study.
• Employed the National Eye Institute 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) and eye examinations.
• Developed and compared 5 comorbidity measures, using ANOVA and regression analyses.

Main Results:

• Lower visual function subscale scores were observed with a higher number of systemic comorbid conditions (P<.05).
• This association was more pronounced in individuals with moderate to severe visual impairment.
• The number of self-reported systemic comorbidities showed the strongest correlation with visual function.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported systemic comorbidities are significantly associated with self-reported visual function.
• The negative impact of comorbidities on vision is amplified at more severe levels of visual impairment.
• Counting the number of systemic comorbidities is a key indicator for assessing visual function decline.