Near vision problems double repeated hospitalisation risk in older adults

New research has explored the relationship between visual impairment and the risk of hospitalisation among older adults.

The study, which was published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involved 2960 US residents aged 71 and older, with an average age of 81.

The researchers used data collected as part of the National Health and Aging Trends Study in 2021, including objective measures of distance and near visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity.

They found that older adults with any type of vision impairment were more likely to be hospitalised than those without a vision impairment.

Those with a near vision impairment were twice as likely to experience recurrent hospitalisation as those without any vision problems.

“As recurrent hospitalisation may adversely impact wellbeing, and carries a high financial cost, future work should focus on elucidating the mechanisms by which near visual impairment is associated with recurrent hospitalisation,” the authors highlighted.

The researchers also recommended developing targeted interventions identifying at-risk older adults with poor near vision.

The study did not find that impaired distance visual acuity or contrast sensitivity was associated with an individual’s risk of recurrent hospitalisation.