Depression and disability associated with impaired vision: the MoVies Project

Abstract

Objective: To assess how depression and impaired vision relate to disability in older people.

Design: An epidemiological survey of an age-stratified random community sample.

Setting: The rural mid-Monongahela Valley in South-western Pennsylvania.

Participants: A total of 872 noninstitutionalized persons aged 68 and older, fluent in English, and with at least a grade 6 education.

Measurements: Demographics, self-reported vision impairment, OARS Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and modified Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale to assess depression.

Results: Compared with subjects with intact vision, those with impaired vision were more likely to have five or more depressive symptoms (29.7% vs 8.5%; OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 2.2, 9.6) and to be more functionally impaired (OR = 9.7, 95% CI = 4.9, 19.2). The number of depressive symptoms (1-4: OR = 2.4, CI = 1.8, 3.4) and (5+: OR = 5.9, CI = 3.6, 9.8) was associated independently with IADL impairment after controlling for vision, age, and gender.

Conclusions: Impaired vision and depression are both associated strongly with functional impairment in this community population of older adults. Depression, however, increases the odds of functional impairment independent of vision impairment. Treating depression may reduce excess disability associated with impaired vision.