Prevalence and burden of self-reported blindness and low vision for individuals living in institutions: a nationwide survey

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Gilles Berdeaux⁴  Mounir Mesbah³  Francis Fagnani¹  Antoine Lafuma¹  Antoine Pierre Brézin² 

[1]Cemka, 43, Boulevard du Maréchal Joffre, F-92340 Bourg-la-Reine, France

[2]Hôpital Cochin – Service d'ophtalmologie – Université Paris 5 – 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques F-75679 Paris cedex 14, France

[3]Université Pierre et marie Curie, 175, rue du Chevaleret, F-75013 Paris France

[4]Gilles Berdeaux, Alcon France, 4 Rue Henri Sainte Claire Deville, F-92563 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex, France

关键词: Dependency;    Incapacity;    Handicap;    Low vision;    Blindness;   

Others  :  1216891
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7525-3-27

 received in 2005-03-23, accepted in 2005-04-25,  发布年份 2005

【 摘 要 】

Background

The prevalence of self-reported low vision (LV) and blindness, and their associated disabilities, handicaps and socio-economic consequences for individuals living in institutions are poorly documented.

Methods

2,075 institutions were selected at random and eight individuals were picked at random from the list of residents. Three groups of individuals were defined: blind, LV, and a control group (CG). These were compared after adjustment for age and co-morbidities. Of the 15,403 individuals, 14,603 interviews (94.9%) were completed.

Results

The prevalence of blindness was 1.6% and the LV 13.4%. Blind individuals needed assistance more often (OR: 2.65 to 11.35) than CG members while the assistance required by LV individuals was similar to that for the CG. Blind individuals required institution adaptation (building and furniture changes) more often than the CG. Blind (57.9%) and LV individuals (35.4%) were more often registered for social allowances. Monthly social allowances were EUR 86 higher for blind than LV individuals. Monthly family incomes were found to be similar between the three groups (from EUR 782 to 797). Social and demographic data, institution description, income, handicaps, disabilities, social allowances and details of daily activities were collected interviews

Conclusion

The results demonstrate the impact of self-reported blindness and LV on daily life for patients living in institutions.

【 授权许可】

   
2005 Brézin et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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