Interaction Between Visual Acuity and Peripheral Vascular Disease with Balance

To determine whether visual acuity is related to balance in older adults with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) or diabetes mellitus.

Cross-sectional analysis.

Canada.

Community-dwelling adults aged 45 to 85 from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (N=30,097).

Visual acuity was measured wearing habitual distance correction using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart at a 2-m distance. Poor balance was defined as being unable to stand on 1 leg for at least 60 seconds. PVD and diabetes mellitus were assessed according to self-report of a physician diagnosis. Multiple logistic regression was used.

People who reported PVD (n=1,295) were more likely to have worse balance than those who did not (odds ratio (OR)=1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.29-1.77). In those who did not report PVD (n=26,211), a 1-line worse score on the visual acuity test was associated with 23% higher odds of being unable to stand for at least 60 seconds after adjusting for age, sex, education, province, body mass index, and diabetes mellitus (OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.20-1.26). In those who reported PVD, the odds of being unable to stand was almost double (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.22-1.62). The interaction between visual acuity and PVD was statistically significant (P=.02).

Visual acuity and PVD interact in their relationship with balance. People with poor vision and PVD may be at an especially high risk of mobility difficulties.