Assessment of the Effect of Visual Impairment on Mortality through Multiple Health Pathways: Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract

In addition to the direct link between VI and mortality, the effects of VI on general health and disability contribute to an increased risk of death. Ignoring the latter may lead to an underestimation of the substantive impact of VI on mortality.

Direct and Indirect Effects of Visual Impairment on Mortality Risk in Older Persons

“…In agreement with their findings, our study reported a small but significant indirect effect through disability. 24 In contrast to our results, however, these authors reported that self-rated health was a significant indirect pathway that was independent of disability in walking. Other notable differences from this earlier study were that the indirect pathways had a lower magnitude than the direct pathway and the HRs were much lower in comparison with those estimated from our study sample.…”

“…The authors reported that in addition to a direct effect on mortality, visual impairment increased mortality risk indirectly through intermediate variables self-rated health and disability. 24 To confirm the findings by Christ et al, 24 we aimed, in an older Australian population-based cohort, to examine associations between visual impairment, mortality risk markers, and the 13-year risk of mortality using a SEM approach.…”

Direct and Indirect Effects of Visual Impairment on Mortality Risk in Older Persons

“…In agreement with their findings, our study reported a small but significant indirect effect through disability. 24 In contrast to our results, however, these authors reported that self-rated health was a significant indirect pathway that was independent of disability in walking. Other notable differences from this earlier study were that the indirect pathways had a lower magnitude than the direct pathway and the HRs were much lower in comparison with those estimated from our study sample.…”

“…The authors reported that in addition to a direct effect on mortality, visual impairment increased mortality risk indirectly through intermediate variables self-rated health and disability. 24 To confirm the findings by Christ et al, 24 we aimed, in an older Australian population-based cohort, to examine associations between visual impairment, mortality risk markers, and the 13-year risk of mortality using a SEM approach.…”

Visual Acuity and Increased Mortality: The Role of Allostatic Load and Functional Status

“…These findings add to the small but growing literature on the identification of potential mechanisms by which poor ocular health impacts overall health and mortality risk. [14][15][16] Similar patterns of association were found when analyses were repeated for CVD-related mortality. Visual impairment not only directly increased the risk of CVD-related mortality; it also indirectly increased the risk of mortality through its effect on AL and IADL.…”

Association of consciousness impairment and mortality in people with COVID‐19

“…23 It has been widely used to analyse complex associations in different areas, including medicine, particularly to explore aetiology and identify best treatments. 24,25 Our findings suggest that COVID-19 deaths are mainly associated with lower GCS scores. In the structural equation modelling, Conversely, low tolerance to hypoxia could also lead to a shorter expectation of survival time.…”

Direct and Indirect Effects of Visual Impairment on Mortality Risk in Older Persons

“…In agreement with their findings, our study reported a small but significant indirect effect through disability. 24 In contrast to our results, however, these authors reported that self-rated health was a significant indirect pathway that was independent of disability in walking. Other notable differences from this earlier study were that the indirect pathways had a lower magnitude than the direct pathway and the HRs were much lower in comparison with those estimated from our study sample.…”

“…The authors reported that in addition to a direct effect on mortality, visual impairment increased mortality risk indirectly through intermediate variables self-rated health and disability. 24 To confirm the findings by Christ et al, 24 we aimed, in an older Australian population-based cohort, to examine associations between visual impairment, mortality risk markers, and the 13-year risk of mortality using a SEM approach.…”

Visual Acuity and Increased Mortality: The Role of Allostatic Load and Functional Status

“…These findings add to the small but growing literature on the identification of potential mechanisms by which poor ocular health impacts overall health and mortality risk. [14][15][16] Similar patterns of association were found when analyses were repeated for CVD-related mortality. Visual impairment not only directly increased the risk of CVD-related mortality; it also indirectly increased the risk of mortality through its effect on AL and IADL.…”

Association of consciousness impairment and mortality in people with COVID‐19

“…23 It has been widely used to analyse complex associations in different areas, including medicine, particularly to explore aetiology and identify best treatments. 24,25 Our findings suggest that COVID-19 deaths are mainly associated with lower GCS scores. In the structural equation modelling, Conversely, low tolerance to hypoxia could also lead to a shorter expectation of survival time.…”

Direct and Indirect Effects of Visual Impairment on Mortality Risk in Older Persons

“…In agreement with their findings, our study reported a small but significant indirect effect through disability. 24 In contrast to our results, however, these authors reported that self-rated health was a significant indirect pathway that was independent of disability in walking. Other notable differences from this earlier study were that the indirect pathways had a lower magnitude than the direct pathway and the HRs were much lower in comparison with those estimated from our study sample.…”

“…The authors reported that in addition to a direct effect on mortality, visual impairment increased mortality risk indirectly through intermediate variables self-rated health and disability. 24 To confirm the findings by Christ et al, 24 we aimed, in an older Australian population-based cohort, to examine associations between visual impairment, mortality risk markers, and the 13-year risk of mortality using a SEM approach.…”

Visual Acuity and Increased Mortality: The Role of Allostatic Load and Functional Status

“…These findings add to the small but growing literature on the identification of potential mechanisms by which poor ocular health impacts overall health and mortality risk. [14][15][16] Similar patterns of association were found when analyses were repeated for CVD-related mortality. Visual impairment not only directly increased the risk of CVD-related mortality; it also indirectly increased the risk of mortality through its effect on AL and IADL.…”

Association of consciousness impairment and mortality in people with COVID‐19

“…23 It has been widely used to analyse complex associations in different areas, including medicine, particularly to explore aetiology and identify best treatments. 24,25 Our findings suggest that COVID-19 deaths are mainly associated with lower GCS scores. In the structural equation modelling, Conversely, low tolerance to hypoxia could also lead to a shorter expectation of survival time.…”