TY - JOUR
T1 - Disparity in prevalence of self-reported visual impairment in older adults among U.S. race-ethnic subgroups
AU - Lam, Byron L.
AU - Lee, David J.
AU - Zheng, D. Diane
AU - Davila, Evelyn P.
AU - Christ, Sharon L.
AU - Arheart, Kristopher L.
N1 - Funding Information:
The work was supported by grant R03 EY016481 from the National Eye Institute.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Purpose: Prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in the United States (U.S.) has not been carefully examined by race-ethnic subgroups. This study examines self-reported VI prevalence in race-ethnic subgroups using data representative of the U.S. population age 45 years. Methods: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a population-based multipurpose and multistage area probability annual survey of the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Data from a total of 122,649 participants age 45 years from the pooled 1999-2006 National Health Interview Surveys were used. VI prevalence was based on two questions asked to participants, Do you have any trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses? (some VI), and Are you blind or unable to see at all? (severe VI). Results: For middle-aged adults age 45-64 years, race/ethnic groups with high age-adjusted rates of any self-reported VI (some or severe VI) include Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and those reporting mixed race/ethnicity. Among older adults age 65 years, understudied race/ethnic groups with high age-adjusted rates of any self-reported VI include Native Americans, Chinese Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central/South Americans. Among older adults with severe VI, the results suggest high VI prevalence in Filipinos, Chinese Americans, Dominicans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans and those reporting mixed race/ethnicity. Conclusions: Among understudied U.S. race-ethnic groups, older Native Americans, Chinese Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central/South Americans generally have high rates of self-reported VI suggesting further targeted epidemiologic and intervention studies may be warranted.
AB - Purpose: Prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in the United States (U.S.) has not been carefully examined by race-ethnic subgroups. This study examines self-reported VI prevalence in race-ethnic subgroups using data representative of the U.S. population age 45 years. Methods: The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a population-based multipurpose and multistage area probability annual survey of the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Data from a total of 122,649 participants age 45 years from the pooled 1999-2006 National Health Interview Surveys were used. VI prevalence was based on two questions asked to participants, Do you have any trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses? (some VI), and Are you blind or unable to see at all? (severe VI). Results: For middle-aged adults age 45-64 years, race/ethnic groups with high age-adjusted rates of any self-reported VI (some or severe VI) include Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and those reporting mixed race/ethnicity. Among older adults age 65 years, understudied race/ethnic groups with high age-adjusted rates of any self-reported VI include Native Americans, Chinese Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central/South Americans. Among older adults with severe VI, the results suggest high VI prevalence in Filipinos, Chinese Americans, Dominicans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans and those reporting mixed race/ethnicity. Conclusions: Among understudied U.S. race-ethnic groups, older Native Americans, Chinese Americans, Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and Central/South Americans generally have high rates of self-reported VI suggesting further targeted epidemiologic and intervention studies may be warranted.
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Blacks
KW - Chinese Americans
KW - Dominicans
KW - Hispanics
KW - Native Americans
KW - Puerto Ricans
KW - Visual impairment
KW - Whites
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U2 - 10.1080/09286580902863007
DO - 10.1080/09286580902863007
M3 - Article
C2 - 19437308
AN - SCOPUS:67149139967
VL - 16
SP - 144
EP - 150
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
JF - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
SN - 0928-6586
IS - 3
ER -