Association between visual impairment and recurrent hospitalizations in older US adults

Background

Visual impairment (VI) is common in older adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the association between objectively assessed VI and recurrent hospitalization remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association of different domains of visual function with recurrent hospitalization in older adults in the United States.

Methods

We used data from Round 11 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries, which included objective measures of distance and near visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we analyzed the association between VI (distance and near acuity <20/40, contrast sensitivity <1 SD below the sample mean) and prior year hospitalization and estimated marginal predicted probabilities of any (≥1) and recurrent (>1) hospitalization. Models were adjusted for demographic factors and comorbid medical conditions and accounted for NHATS complex survey design.

Results

The sample included 2960 respondents aged 71 and older (median age 81 years; 45% male, 82% non-Hispanic White). The predicted probability of hospitalization for those with any type of VI was 19.2% (15.9–22.6) versus 16.7% (14.9–18.6) for those without VI. The predicted probability of recurrent hospitalization for those with any type of VI was 7.2% (4.8–9.7) versus 4.1% (3.1–5.2) for those without VI. Near VI was significantly associated with recurrent hospitalization (OR = 2.04 [1.6, 3.61], p = 0.02), independent of other visual function measures, while other types of VI were not.

Conclusion

Near VI is significantly associated with recurrent hospitalization in older US adults. Future studies should determine whether improving near vision affects the likelihood of recurrent hospitalization.