Health-related quality of life and related factors among older adults with visual impairments

Abstract

Aim was to explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and related factors among older adults with visual impairment (VI). A total of 39 independently living subjects aged ⩾65 years (83 ± 6.5), referred to the Low Vision Center of the Oulu University Hospital, Finland during one year participated in the study. The participants had low vision or blindness as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). The 15D, a generic HRQoL instrument, was used to assess the HRQoL, and an ophthalmic examination was performed to assess vision. A population-based control group ( n = 1074) was available for comparison. The mean 15D index scores for the participants and the control group were 0.768 ( SD = 0.089) and 0.827 ( SD = 0.044), respectively, ( p < .002). In the dimensions of move ( p < .05), see ( p < .001), breath ( p < .05), usual activities ( p < .001), depression ( p < .05), and distress ( p < .05), the study participants scored statistically significantly lower than the control group. However, the participants had better mental function scores (0.856 vs 0.773, p < .05). Among the participants, there was no difference in the 15D by gender (men 0.755, women 0.774, p > .05), habitation (alone 0.768, with someone 0.770, p > .05), or age ( r = –.084), nor did the extent of low vision appear to affect the 15D index in this material. The older adults with VI had poorer 15D index score than Finnish population of equal age, but they scored better in the dimension of mental function. Mental skills may indeed be crucial for independent living despite VI.

The extent to which mobile applications support independence among the visually impaired – a pilot study

“…This might explain the respondents' demands for better visual identification apps. The results agree with the findings of previous studies both in terms of difficulties faced by people with VI when using mobile devices (Damaceno et al, 2018) and the tasks that people with VI need mobile devices and applications for (Bhowmick & Hazarika, 2016;Hakobyan et al, 2012;Mednick et al, 2017;Riddering, 2016;Rodriguez-Sanchez et al, 2014;Siira et al, 2019).…”

“…People with VI encounter numerous challenges in everyday life, e.g. independent orientation, reading, retrieval of information, running errands, and social interaction (Bhowmick & Hazarika, 2016;Hakobyan et al, 2012;Mednick, Jaidka, Nesdolc & Bona, 2017;Riddering, 2016;Rodriguez-Sanchez, Moreno-Alvarez, Borromeo & Hernandez-Tamames,2014;Siira et al 2019). Being affected by VI also increases a person's risk of experiencing emotional and/or psychological burden (Mednick et al, 2017).…”

Influence of the health status and other relevant factors on the quality of life of elderly people

“…Quite unexpected, our results show that vision impairment and physical impairment have positive relation with quality of life which could be explained with greater support this people acquire from their families. Other studies showed different findings pointing that visual and hearing impairment had negative influence on quality of life [24,25] . However, when unique impact of health status on quality of life is analyzed, when other variables are controlled, health status explains 21.6% of variance in addition to variance explained by physical accessibility, socio-economic status and social environment.…”

A preliminary investigation of the well-being of visually impaired ex-service personnel in the United Kingdom

“…Lower health satisfaction may be expected in this population, all of whom had a VI. VI and other chronic physical health conditions have been associated with poor health-related well-being and quality of life in older adults with a VI (Chia et al, 2004; Langelaan et al, 2007; Siira et al, 2019). In addition, many participants had a comorbid physical or mental health condition.…”