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. 2010 Jul-Aug;58(4):313-20.
doi: 10.4103/0301-4738.64143.

Prevalence and determinants of blindness, low vision, deafness and major bone fractures among elderly Omani population of Nizwa Wilayat (Nizwa elderly population study-2005)

Rajiv Khandekar  1 , Asiya Al Riyami, Mahmood Attiya, Magdi Morsi
Affiliations

Prevalence and determinants of blindness, low vision, deafness and major bone fractures among elderly Omani population of Nizwa Wilayat (Nizwa elderly population study-2005)

Rajiv Khandekar et al. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2010 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Aim: We conducted a survey in 2005 to estimate the prevalence and determinants of visual and hearing impairment in a population aged 60 years and above, from the Nizwa Wilayat of Oman. We also correlated them with major bone fracture.

Study design: Cross-sectional survey.

Materials and methods: Vision was tested on Snellen's 'E' chart. Persons with vision less than 20/200 were reexamined by an ophthalmologist to find cause of impairment. Hearing was tested by a screening audiometer. Self-reported information on fracture of major bones was confirmed by review of case records. The prevalence, 95% confidence intervals (CI), and number of visually impaired individuals were calculated.

Statistical analysis: Univariate method and parametric tests were used for analysis.

Results: We examined 1,639 (80.3%) Omani persons aged 60 years and above. The prevalence of blindness (vision less than 20/200 in the better eye) was 37.4% (95% CI 35.7-39.1). Blindness was significantly higher in females (Odd's Ratio = 2.1) but was similar in urban and rural Nizwa (OR = 0.73). The prevalence of vision impairment (20/60 to 10/200) was 36.0% (95% CI 34.3-37.7). Cataract was the principal cause in 50% of the blind. The prevalence of glaucoma, corneal opacity, and chronic trachoma was 3.1%, 66.8%, and 53.2%, respectively. Among participants, 36.1% had diabetes. Hearing impairment was noted in 33.5% and profound hearing loss was noted in 3.6% of participants. In the past year, 1.4% of participants had a major bone fracture.

Conclusion: Visual and hearing impairment and blinding eye diseases were common among senior Omani citizens.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of bilateral blindness by principal cause in more than 60 years old population. (Nizwa elderly population study – 2005. Avoidable/curable cause in an eye of a person was considered to label the principal cause of blindness. TCO = Trachomatous corneal opacity, NTCO = Non-trachomatous corneal opacity
Figure 2
Figure 2
Distribution of low vision by principal cause in more than 60 years old population. (Nizwa elderly population study – 2005). To label the principal cause of low vision, avoidable/curable cause in any of the eyes of a person was considered. TCO = Trachomatous corneal opacity, NTCO = Non-trachomatous corneal opacity
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