Effects of visual impairment on mobility functions in elderly: Results of Fujiwara-kyo Eye Study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 1; p. e0244997
• Main Authors: Miyata, Kimie, Yoshikawa, Tadanobu, Harano, Akihiro, Ueda, Tetsuo, Ogata, Nahoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 29.01.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biology and Life Sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographic aspects; Diagnosis; Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; Evaluation; Female; Humans; Male; Medical examination; Medicine and Health Sciences; Patient outcomes; People and Places; Postural Balance - physiology; Social Sciences; Standing position; Vision disorders; Vision Disorders - physiopathology; Visual Acuity - physiology; Walking; Walking - physiology; Walking Speed - physiology; Japan
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244997

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant association between a visual impairment (VI) and mobility functions in an elderly Japanese cohort. The subjects of this study were part of the Fujiwara-kyo Eye Study, a cross sectional epidemiological study of elderly individuals conducted by Nara Medical University. Participants were ≥70-years who lived in the Nara Prefecture. All underwent comprehensive ophthalmological examinations, and a VI was defined as a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) worse than 20/40 in the better eye. The associations between the BCVA and walking speed and one-leg standing time were determined. The medical history and health conditions were evaluated by a self-administered questionnaire. A total of the 2,809 subjects whose mean age was 76.3 ± 4.8 years (± standard deviation) were studied. The individuals with a VI (2.1%) had significantly slower walking speeds and shorter one-leg standing times than that of the non-VI individuals (1.5±0.4 vs 1.7±0.4 m/sec, P<0.01; 17.1±19.6 vs 27.6±21.3 sec, P<0.01, respectively). Univariate logistic regression found that the odds ratio (OR) for the slower walking speed (<1 m/sec) in the VI individuals was significantly higher at 7.40 (3.36-16.30;95% CI, P <0.001) than in non-VI individuals. It was still significantly higher at 4.50 (1.87-10.85;95% CI, P = 0.001) in the multivariate logistic regression model after adjusting for the BCVA, age, sex, current smoking habit, and health conditions. Our results indicate that the walking speed and one-leg standing times were significantly associated with VI.