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Association between Vision Impairment and Physical Quality of Life Assessed Using National Surveillance Data
Dean A VanNasdale, Lisa A Jones-Jordan1, Megan S Hurley1
1The Ohio State University College of Optometry, Columbus, Ohio.
Summary
Individuals with vision impairment report significantly more physically unhealthy days than those without. This highlights a critical need for integrated vision care in chronic disease management to improve overall quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Ophthalmology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Vision impairment is associated with reduced quality of life.
- National health surveillance data can quantify health disparities.
- Vision care is crucial for chronic disease management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between vision impairment and health-related quality of life.
- Utilize data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
Main Methods:
- Extracted 2017 BRFSS data from all 50 states.
- Categorized participants into visually impaired and non-visually impaired groups based on self-reported difficulty seeing.
- Quantified quality of life using self-reported physically unhealthy days in the past 30 days.
Main Results:
- Mean physically unhealthy days were 10.63 for the visually impaired and 3.68 for the non-visually impaired.
- The ratio of unhealthy days was highest in younger cohorts (2.91 for 18-39 years).
- Significant geographic variability in unhealthy days was observed.
Conclusions:
- National data confirm a higher burden of physically unhealthy days among the visually impaired.
- Further research is needed to understand the causes of reduced physical health in this population.
- Investigating the perception of vision as part of overall health is essential.
