Journal
MATURITAS
Volume 143, Issue -, Pages 203-208Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.10.015
Keywords
Blue Mountains Eye Study; Sensory impairment; Aging; Hearing loss; Vision loss
Categories
Funding
- Australian National Health and Medical Research Council [974159, 991407, 211069, 262120]
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This study aimed to examine the relationship between vision and hearing loss and successful aging in older adults. Results showed that having a single sensory impairment, particularly in hearing, was associated with reduced odds of being disease-free and fully functional or having aged successfully 5 years later.
Objective: We aimed to prospectively examine the relationship between vision and hearing loss and successful aging in a cohort of older adults. Study design: We analyzed 5-year data (1997-9 to 2002-4) from 1,085 adults aged 55+ years, who were free of cancer, coronary artery disease and stroke at baseline and who had complete data on sensory loss. Main outcome measures: Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity <20/40 (better eye), and hearing impairment as average pure-tone air conduction threshold >25 dBHL (500-4000 Hz, better ear). Successful aging was defined as the absence of: disability, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, respiratory symptoms and chronic diseases (cancer, coronary artery disease and stroke) at 5-year follow-up. Results: At 5-year follow-up, 243 (22.4%) participants had died and 248 (22.9%) had aged successfully. After multivariable adjustment, participants who had either best-corrected visual impairment or bilateral hearing impairment, versus those who did not have sensory impairment at baseline, had 37% reduced odds of successful aging after 5 years: OR 0.63 (95% CI 0.43-0.94). Concurrent vision and hearing loss at baseline was not associated with 5-year aging status. Participants with moderate and severe hearing handicap at baseline had 50% and 61% reduced odds of aging successfully after 5 years, respectively. Conclusion: The presence of a single sensory impairment in older adults was associated with reduced odds of being disease-free and fully functional or having aged successfully, 5 years later. Objectively measured hearing loss and self-perceived hearing handicap, rather than vision loss, was more likely to negatively influence 5-year aging status.
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