Does visual impairment affect social ties in late life? Findings of a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany

Hajek, André; Brettschneider, Christian; Lühmann, Dagmar; Eisele, Marion; Mamone, Silke; Wiese, Birgitt; Weyerer, Siegfried; Werle, Jochen; Pentzek, Michael; Fuchs, Ângela; Stein, Janine; Luck, Tobias; Bickel, Horst; Weeg, Dagmar; Heser, Kathrin; Jessen, Frank; Maier, Wolfgang; Scherer, Martin; Riedel‐Heller, Steffi G.; König, Hans‐Helmut

doi:10.1007/s12603-016-0768-0

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…DSI is a common phenomenon in older adults and can lead to difficulties in performing different physical and cognitive activities . It is also associated with reduced quality of life, reduced cognitive function and increased loneliness . However, thus far, it remains almost unknown whether DSI is associated with healthcare use (HCU) among older adults .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4 It is also associated with reduced quality of life, reduced cognitive function and increased loneliness. [5][6][7] However, thus far, it remains almost unknown whether DSI is associated with healthcare use (HCU) among older adults. 8,9 Therefore, the aim of our study was to clarify whether DSI is associated with increased HCU based on a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥40 years in Germany.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dual sensory impairment and healthcare use: Findings from a nationally representative sample

Hajek

König

2020

Geriatrics Gerontology Int

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Aim Dual sensory impairment (DSI) is a common phenomenon in later life. However, only a few studies investigated whether DSI is associated with healthcare use. Therefore, our purpose was to determine whether DSI is associated with healthcare use among older adults. Methods Data were taken from the most recent sixth wave of the German Ageing Survey. When self‐reported hearing problems and visual impairment were both present, individuals were classified as dual sensory impaired. The frequency of general practitioner (GP) visits, frequency of specialist visits and hospitalization were used as outcome measures. Covariates (mainly based on self‐reports) were selected based on Andersen's behavioral model. In total, 5081 observations were in our analytical sample. Results Among individuals with DSI, mean ± SD number of GP visits was 4.4 ± 4.7, mean ± SD number of specialist visits was 3.7 ± 5.0, and 23.2% were hospitalized in the past 12 months. Among individuals without sensory impairment, mean ± SD number of GP visits was 3.0 ± 3.6, mean ± SD number of specialist visits was 2.4 ± 3.4, and 17% were hospitalized in the past 12 months. Negative binomial regressions revealed that the presence of DSI was associated with increased specialist visits (incidence rate ratio = 1.17 [95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.28]), whereas it was not associated with GP visits and hospitalization. Conclusions Even after adjusting for several covariates, individuals with DSI had higher specialist visits than individuals without DSI. As the presence of DSI is associated with an increased economic burden, efforts to prevent or delay DSI may be beneficial. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••–•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••–••.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual sensory impairment and healthcare use: Findings from a nationally representative sample

Hajek

König

2020

Geriatrics Gerontology Int

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“…The consequences of vision loss significantly affect the person’s quality of life,4–6 dependence7 and increases the risk of recurrent falls and fractures, which is a significant threat to mobility in old age 8–12. A YouGov poll showed that sight was by far the sensory function, people fear losing the most 13.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DETECT: DEveloping and testing a model to identify preventive vision loss among older paTients in gEneral praCTice – protocol for a complex intervention in Denmark

et al. 2023

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IntroductionThe number of people living with visual impairment is increasing. Visual impairment causes loss in quality of life and reduce self-care abilities. The burden of disease is heavy for people experiencing visual impairment and their relatives. The severity and progression of age-related eye diseases are dependent on the time of detection and treatment options, making timely access to healthcare critical in reducing visual impairment. General practice plays a key role in public health by managing preventive healthcare, diagnostics and treatment of chronic conditions. General practitioners (GPs) coordinate services from other healthcare professionals. More involvement of the primary sector could potentially be valuable in detecting visual impairment.MethodsWe apply the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions to develop a primary care intervention with the GP as a key actor, aimed at identifying and coordinating care for patients with low vision. The development process will engage patients, relatives and relevant health professional stakeholders. We will pilot test the feasibility of the intervention in a real-world general practice setting. The intervention model will be developed through a participatory approach using qualitative and creative methods such as graphical facilitation. We aim to explore the potentials and limitations of general practice in relation to detection of preventable vision loss.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval is obtained from local authority and the study meets the requirements from the Declaration of Helsinki. Dissemination is undertaken through research papers and to the broader public through podcasts and patient organisations.

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“…There is an ongoing demographic ageing taking place in various industrialised countries. A large proportion of individuals in late life feel lonely or isolated (e.g., due to visual impairment, or the loss of the spouse 1,2 ). In times of the Corona pandemic, at least temporary social isolation can hardly be avoided.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do lonely and socially isolated individuals think they die earlier? The link between loneliness, social isolation and expectations of longevity based on a nationally representative sample

Hajek

König

2021

Psychogeriatrics

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Background Loneliness and social isolation both have been linked to morbidity and mortality. However, there is a lack of studies investigating whether these factors are associated with expectations of longevity. Therefore, we aimed to clarify this association. Methods Cross‐sectional data were taken from a nationally representative sample of middle‐aged and older individuals (analytical sample, n = 4857). Well‐established scales were used to measure loneliness and social isolation. Equally to other large cohort studies, expectations of longevity were assessed using the question ‘What age do you think you will live to?’ It was adjusted for various socioeconomic and health‐related factors. Results After adjusting for various socioeconomic and health‐related covariates, multiple linear regressions showed that both loneliness (total sample: β = −0.97, P < 0.001; men: β = −1.04, P < 0.001; women: β = −0.97, P < 0.01) and social isolation (total sample: β = −0.93, P < 0.001; men: β = −0.86, P < 0.001; women: β = −0.91, P < 0.01) were associated with lower expectations of longevity in the total sample and stratified by gender. Furthermore, lower expectations of longevity were consistently associated with younger age (β = 0.32, P < 0.001), being retired (β = −2.39, P < 0.001), not being employed (β = −1.97, P < 0.001), worse self‐rated health (β = −1.31, P < 0.001), and a higher number of chronic illnesses (β = −0.38, P < 0.001) in the total sample, and in both genders. Conclusions Even after adjusting for various covariates, findings still indicate an association between both loneliness and social isolation and markedly lower expectations of longevity. Future studies based on longitudinal data are required to gain further insights.

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Does visual impairment affect social ties in late life? Findings of a multicenter prospective cohort study in Germany

Abstract: Our results highlight the importance of visual impairment for social ties in late life. Consequently, appropriate strategies in order to delay visual impairment might help to maintain social ties in old age.

Cited by 15 publications

References 38 publications

Dual sensory impairment and healthcare use: Findings from a nationally representative sample

Dual sensory impairment and healthcare use: Findings from a nationally representative sample

DETECT: DEveloping and testing a model to identify preventive vision loss among older paTients in gEneral praCTice – protocol for a complex intervention in Denmark

Do lonely and socially isolated individuals think they die earlier? The link between loneliness, social isolation and expectations of longevity based on a nationally representative sample

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