Dual Sensory Impairment and Functional Status in a Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of visual impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory impairment (DSI) on functional status in older adults. METHODS: Secondary analysis of the Manitoba Health and Aging Study, a population-based cohort study of 1751 adults age 65+. Data were collected from 1991 to 1992 (Time 1), with follow-up five years later (Time 2). Vision and hearing were self-reported. Functional status was measured using the Older Americans Resource and Services (OARS). Logistic regression models were constructed to assess functional status at both Time 1 and Time 2. RESULTS: Dual sensory impairment (DSI) at Time 1 predicted poor functional status at both Time 1 and Time 2. The adjusted odds ratios (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) for poor functional status at Time 1 for those with only hearing impairment was 1.74 (1.25, 2.44) for visual impairment was 2.95 (2.19, 3.98), and for DSI was 3.58 (2.58, 4.95). At Time 2, the adjusted ORs for poor functional status for those with only hearing impairment was 1.32 (0.86, 2.03), for visual impairment was 1.63 (1.05, 2.52), and for DSI was 2.61 (1.54, 4.40). CONCLUSIONS: DSI is associated with lower functional status, but the effect of visual impairment is more pronounced than hearing impairment.