TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of visual impairment on vision-related quality of life in American Indian/Alaska Natives
AU - McClure, Tina M.
AU - Choi, Dongseok
AU - Becker, Thomas
AU - Cioffi, George A.
AU - Mansberger, Steven L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Eye Institute (grant number 3-K23 E40155501-01), the Centers for Disease Control (grant number U48 DP000024-01), the American Glaucoma Society, and the Good Samaritan Foundation.
PY - 2009/4
Y1 - 2009/4
N2 - Purpose: To determine if National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) scores decrease with worsening visual acuity (VA) in American Indian/Alaska Natives (Al/AN), as well as determine the other associated explanatory factors for vision-related quality of life. Methods: The study included 414 randomly selected AI/AN tribal members aged 40 years or older from the Pacific Northwest. We excluded candidates who were deceased, seriously ill, had dementia, or otherwise were unable to perform subjective testing such as visual field testing. The participants completed the NEI-VFQ-25, as well as a detailed eye examination. We defined visual impairment as presenting distance VA 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye. The main outcome measures were NEI-VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores. We compared median NEI-VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores in those with visual impairment to those without visual impairment. Results: Visual impairment occurred in 53 (12.8%, Cl: 9.6-16.0) participants. The NEI-VFQ-25 median composite score was significantly lower in those with visual impairment as compared to those without visual impairment (77.5 vs. 90.1, p =.001). A univariate analysis showed VA to be significantly (p .05) associated with all subscales except ocular pain. When controlling for age, gender, income level, education, percent AIAN heritage, and marital status, a multivariate proportional odds model analysis showed VA to be the best predictor of NEI-VFQ 25 composite scores. Conclusion: Visual impairment is common in Northwest AI/AN. The NEI-VFQ-25 was sensitive to differences in VA, suggesting it is a valid measure of vision-related quality of life in AI/AN.
AB - Purpose: To determine if National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) scores decrease with worsening visual acuity (VA) in American Indian/Alaska Natives (Al/AN), as well as determine the other associated explanatory factors for vision-related quality of life. Methods: The study included 414 randomly selected AI/AN tribal members aged 40 years or older from the Pacific Northwest. We excluded candidates who were deceased, seriously ill, had dementia, or otherwise were unable to perform subjective testing such as visual field testing. The participants completed the NEI-VFQ-25, as well as a detailed eye examination. We defined visual impairment as presenting distance VA 20/40 or worse in the better-seeing eye. The main outcome measures were NEI-VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores. We compared median NEI-VFQ-25 composite and subscale scores in those with visual impairment to those without visual impairment. Results: Visual impairment occurred in 53 (12.8%, Cl: 9.6-16.0) participants. The NEI-VFQ-25 median composite score was significantly lower in those with visual impairment as compared to those without visual impairment (77.5 vs. 90.1, p =.001). A univariate analysis showed VA to be significantly (p .05) associated with all subscales except ocular pain. When controlling for age, gender, income level, education, percent AIAN heritage, and marital status, a multivariate proportional odds model analysis showed VA to be the best predictor of NEI-VFQ 25 composite scores. Conclusion: Visual impairment is common in Northwest AI/AN. The NEI-VFQ-25 was sensitive to differences in VA, suggesting it is a valid measure of vision-related quality of life in AI/AN.
KW - American Indian/Alaska Native
KW - Blindness
KW - Quality of life
KW - Visual acuity
KW - Visual impairment
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U2 - 10.1080/09286580902745428
DO - 10.1080/09286580902745428
M3 - Article
C2 - 19353401
AN - SCOPUS:65449128190
SN - 0928-6586
VL - 16
SP - 128
EP - 135
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
JF - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
IS - 2
ER -