[Associations of impaired physical status and visual pathology in the elderly.]

Abstract

Aging is associated with a decline in the patient's physical, mental, and social domains. The physical condition of the elderly is assessed by measuring walking speed, balance impairment, assessing the risk of falls syndrome and other methods. Sensory deficits are also part of the aging body and can affect physical status. It is necessary to know how the parameters of physical status can change in certain pathologies of sensory organs, in particular the eyes. Objective: to study the relationship between physical status disorders and visual pathology in patients over 60 years of age. The database was compiled on the basis of medical records of 481 patients of the Arkhangelsk War Veterans Hospital JSC from 2019-2023. Impaired characteristics of physical status increased with increasing age group; women were mostly affected by impaired physical status. Associations with decreased walking speed were shown by glaucoma OR=1,74; 95% CI 1,10-2,77, cataract OR=1,83; 95% CI 1,12-2,97, retinopathy OR=2,15; 95% CI 1,09-4,03 and refractive error OR=1,47; 95% CI 1,14-2,53. Worsening of the Time up and go test showed refractive error OR 1,47; 95% CI 1,14-2,53. An increased risk of falls according to the Morse scale was shown by uncorrected vision OR 1,51; 95% CI 1-2,26. The listed diseases can serve as ophthalmic pathology markers when introducing a geriatric approach and constructing an algorithm for providing ophthalmological care to the elderly.