Background:The aim of this study was to investigate the association between self-rated eyesight and handgrip strength in a large, representative population of older adults.Methods: Data were from 7,433 older adults (≥52y) participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We used linear regression to analyse the association between self-rated eyesight and handgrip strength cross-sectionally in 2004/05, and longitudinally over four-year follow-up, adjusting for a range of socio-demographic and health-related variables.
Results:In cross-sectional and prospective models, poor eyesight was strongly associated with lower handgrip strength after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and BMI (crosssectional B = -1.39 kg, 95% CI -1.84 to -0.94, p<0.001, prospective B = -0.68 kg, 95% CI -1.14 to -0.22, p=0.004). The association was attenuated but remained statistically significant when health behaviours were included in the model (cross-sectional B = -0.93 kg, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.44, p<0.001, prospective B = -0.50, 95% CI -0.99 to -0.02, p=0.044).
Conclusions:Older adults in England with poor self-rated eyesight have lower levels of physical function compared with those with good eyesight. This association can be predominantly explained by differences in age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, BMI, and health behaviours, as well as chronic conditions, disability and depression.