Age and gender differences in health characteristics of older people with visual impairment

IF 3.4 3区 医学 Q2 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY
Salvatore Metanmo, Charnel Mbianda, Marie-Josiane Ntsama-Ebode, Callixte Kuate-Tegueu, Melanie Annick Magnerou, Nadine Simo, Antoine Gbessemehlan, Maturin Tabue-Teguo
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Abstract

Background

Africa’s population is ageing, with an attendant increase in the number and duration of health problems such as visual impairment (VI). Few data are available from sub-Saharan Africa concerning age and gender differences in this population of people suffering from VI. The aim of this study was to examine age and gender differences in the health characteristics of older people with VI in Cameroon.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Douala, Cameroon, among people aged 55 and over. Participants had to be free of blindness, neurological disorders or other severe health problems. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected, including VI. We investigated differences between men and women in different age strata (< 65, 65–75, > 75 years) among people with VI.

Results

Among 403 participants, 356 (88.3%) had VI and, regardless of age group, there were significantly more women, who lived alone, were professionally active, overweight, had frailty syndrome and were less likely to drive a car. For other variables (education, chronic alcoholism, cognitive impairment, basic and instrumental activities of daily living, depression and falls), differences between men and women were only significant in certain age groups, with women generally at higher risk.

Conclusion

The prevalence of VI is high older (> 55 years) adults in Cameroon, with clear differences between men and women. The oldest individuals, and women appear to be most vulnerable. The identification of at-risk groups/persons through this cross-sectional study should make it possible to adapt public health strategies to contribute to the WHO objective of healthy ageing.

背景非洲人口正在老龄化,随之而来的是视力障碍(VI)等健康问题的数量增加和持续时间延长。撒哈拉以南非洲地区有关视力障碍患者年龄和性别差异的数据很少。本研究旨在探讨喀麦隆视力障碍老年人健康特征的年龄和性别差异。参与者必须没有失明、神经系统疾病或其他严重健康问题。研究收集了社会人口学和临床变量,包括 VI。我们调查了不同年龄段(65 岁、65-75 岁、75 岁)的 VI 患者中男性和女性之间的差异。结果 在 403 名参与者中,356 人(88.3%)患有 VI,无论年龄段如何,女性患者明显较多,她们独居、从事职业活动、超重、患有虚弱综合征,而且不太可能开车。就其他变量(教育、长期酗酒、认知障碍、日常生活基本活动和工具性活动、抑郁和跌倒)而言,男女之间的差异仅在某些年龄组有显著性,女性的风险通常更高。最年长者和女性似乎最容易受到感染。通过这项横断面研究确定高危人群,可以调整公共卫生战略,为实现世界卫生组织的健康老龄化目标做出贡献。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
7.90
自引率
5.00%
发文量
283
审稿时长
1 months
期刊介绍: Aging clinical and experimental research offers a multidisciplinary forum on the progressing field of gerontology and geriatrics. The areas covered by the journal include: biogerontology, neurosciences, epidemiology, clinical gerontology and geriatric assessment, social, economical and behavioral gerontology. “Aging clinical and experimental research” appears bimonthly and publishes review articles, original papers and case reports.
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