Assessing the Prevalence of Age-Related Vision Loss and Access to Vision Care in Underserved Rural Counties of Northeast TN

Authors' Affiliations

Muhammad Elahi, MD/MPH Student, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Kayla B. Dodson, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Priscilla Rogers, Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC) Jodi Southerland, Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Location

Culp Center Rm. 303

Start Date

4-25-2023 3:40 PM

End Date

4-25-2023 4:00 PM

Faculty Sponsor’s Department

Community & Behavioral Health

Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor

Jodi Southerland

Classification of First Author

Medical Student

Competition Type

Competitive

Type

Oral Presentation

Project's Category

Healthcare and Medicine

Abstract or Artist's Statement

Vision impairment is one of the most common disabilities among older adults and leads to excess disability. Roughly 12 million older Americans (60 years and older) report vision loss resulting in deficits in physical and cognitive functioning. Furthermore, visual impairment and blindness cases are expected to double by 2050. The CDC estimates that vision impairment is among the costliest conditions in the U.S. at $145 billion annually. Approximately 195,000 Tennesseans are blind or visually impaired (B/VI) and report having severe difficulty seeing even with glasses. B/VI Tennesseans are more likely to be in poor health, have mobility issues, and report having a fall in the previous year. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of vision impairment and identify barriers to routine eye exams among older adults in Northeast Tennessee. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in March 2023 on a convenience sample of older adults (50 years and older) in Hawkins, Greene, Sullivan, and Washington Counties. We developed a survey in collaboration with representatives from the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC) that was administered in community and senior centers. The study questionnaire included a series of questions on vision health, eye screenings, and barriers to eye care services. Data were also gathered on demographic characteristics, insurance status, and self-reported chronic conditions. Preliminary data from 123 participants have been analyzed. The majority of participants were 65 and older (71.5%), non-Hispanic White (91.8%), and female (70.7%) with income of <$24,000 (70.0%). One-third (33.1%) report their health as fair or poor and nearly half (48.2%) of participants have 4 or more chronic conditions. Underlying conditions are linked to eye problems. Half of participants have hypertension (53.5%) or hypercholesterolemia (47.4%) and nearly one-third (30.7%) have diabetes. The overall prevalence of difficulty seeing even with glasses was 26.3%. Two-thirds (67.9%) report at least one eye condition (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and glaucoma). Twenty percent of participants do not see an eye care provider. Overall, two-thirds (66.7%) indicated at least one obstacle to eye care: cost (35.7%), limited/no insurance coverage (23.8%), transportation (16.7%), and distance (11.9%). Forty percent of participants report traveling 10 miles or less to see an eye care provider. reliminary analyses suggests that B/VI in older adults represents an overlooked and yet rapidly growing public health crisis that impacts healthy aging. Given the high prevalence of chronic comorbidities and eye-related diseases among participants, greater attention is needed on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, routine eye exams, and expanded access to affordable care to address known barriers to care. Multivariate analysis will be used to determine independent predictors of poor vision health in the study population.

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Apr 25th, 3:40 PM Apr 25th, 4:00 PM

Assessing the Prevalence of Age-Related Vision Loss and Access to Vision Care in Underserved Rural Counties of Northeast TN

Culp Center Rm. 303

Vision impairment is one of the most common disabilities among older adults and leads to excess disability. Roughly 12 million older Americans (60 years and older) report vision loss resulting in deficits in physical and cognitive functioning. Furthermore, visual impairment and blindness cases are expected to double by 2050. The CDC estimates that vision impairment is among the costliest conditions in the U.S. at $145 billion annually. Approximately 195,000 Tennesseans are blind or visually impaired (B/VI) and report having severe difficulty seeing even with glasses. B/VI Tennesseans are more likely to be in poor health, have mobility issues, and report having a fall in the previous year. The current study aimed to assess the prevalence of vision impairment and identify barriers to routine eye exams among older adults in Northeast Tennessee. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in March 2023 on a convenience sample of older adults (50 years and older) in Hawkins, Greene, Sullivan, and Washington Counties. We developed a survey in collaboration with representatives from the Aging and Vision Loss National Coalition (AVLNC) that was administered in community and senior centers. The study questionnaire included a series of questions on vision health, eye screenings, and barriers to eye care services. Data were also gathered on demographic characteristics, insurance status, and self-reported chronic conditions. Preliminary data from 123 participants have been analyzed. The majority of participants were 65 and older (71.5%), non-Hispanic White (91.8%), and female (70.7%) with income of <$24,000 (70.0%). One-third (33.1%) report their health as fair or poor and nearly half (48.2%) of participants have 4 or more chronic conditions. Underlying conditions are linked to eye problems. Half of participants have hypertension (53.5%) or hypercholesterolemia (47.4%) and nearly one-third (30.7%) have diabetes. The overall prevalence of difficulty seeing even with glasses was 26.3%. Two-thirds (67.9%) report at least one eye condition (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and glaucoma). Twenty percent of participants do not see an eye care provider. Overall, two-thirds (66.7%) indicated at least one obstacle to eye care: cost (35.7%), limited/no insurance coverage (23.8%), transportation (16.7%), and distance (11.9%). Forty percent of participants report traveling 10 miles or less to see an eye care provider. reliminary analyses suggests that B/VI in older adults represents an overlooked and yet rapidly growing public health crisis that impacts healthy aging. Given the high prevalence of chronic comorbidities and eye-related diseases among participants, greater attention is needed on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, routine eye exams, and expanded access to affordable care to address known barriers to care. Multivariate analysis will be used to determine independent predictors of poor vision health in the study population.