Delayed Medical Care Due to Lack of Transportation among US Adults with Glaucoma

Spatial Vision Inequalities: A Literature Review of the Impact of Place on Vision and Eye Health Outcomes

“… 16 There were increased odds of presenting with visual acuity less than 20/40 in patients with microbial keratitis when a patient's neighborhood had a higher percentage of households with no car (OR = 1.25 per 1 percentage point increase; 95% CI, 1.12–1.40; P = 0.001) and a lower average number of cars per household (OR = 1.56 per one less car; 95% CI, 1.21–2.02; P = 0.003) after adjusting for age, self-reported sex, and self-reported race and ethnicity. 16 Kim et al, 17 utilizing the nationally representative National Health Interview Survey, found that transportation barriers were associated with delayed medical care in patients with glaucoma. Participants who reported delayed medical care for glaucoma had a 2.22 greater adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of reporting that their care was delayed due to a lack of transportation (aOR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.68–2.91; P < 0.0001) after adjusting for age, gender, race and ethnicity, income, insurance coverage geographic region, and Charlson Comorbidity Index.…”

“…Participants who reported delayed medical care for glaucoma had a 2.22 greater adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of reporting that their care was delayed due to a lack of transportation (aOR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.68–2.91; P < 0.0001) after adjusting for age, gender, race and ethnicity, income, insurance coverage geographic region, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. 17 Research to date that has focused on accessible transportation has associated transportation with eye care utilization. Lack of accessible transportation may impact multiple aspects of a person's ability to meet their daily needs (e.g., access to employment or healthy food) that may affect eye care outcomes in other ways.…”