Association of visual impairment with disability: a population-based study

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Ophthalmology
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Visual impairment is a significant global health issue, particularly in developing countries.
• Understanding the co-occurrence of visual impairment with other disabilities is crucial for comprehensive public health planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between visual impairment and other functional disabilities in older adults in Nepal.
• To assess the prevalence of multiple disabilities among visually impaired individuals in a developing country context.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted in 18 communities in Nepal, including 4719 participants aged 50 years and older.
• Visual acuity screening and the Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) for disability assessment were administered.
• Age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between visual impairment and other disabilities.

Main Results:

• Individuals with visual impairment (vision worse than 6/60) were significantly more likely to report disabilities in vision, walking, self-care (washing/dressing), and communication.
• No significant association was found between visual impairment and hearing or memory/concentration disabilities.
• The odds ratios indicated strong associations, e.g., OR 18.4 for vision disability and OR 9.4 for washing/dressing disability among the visually impaired.

Conclusions:

• Visual impairment is significantly associated with a higher likelihood of other self-reported disabilities in older adults in Nepal.
• While causality cannot be determined from this study, findings suggest potential benefits of integrated public health programs.
• The Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) can be a valuable tool for public health programs to identify co-occurring disabilities and measure intervention impacts.