Sensory Impairment and Quality of Life in a Community Elderly Population

Abstract

To determine the association between quality of life measures and sensory impairment in aged individuals living at home.SurveyA community survey, carried out in the historical center of a town in Northern Italy.1191 non-institutionalized elders (age 70-75 years).Comprehensive QOL questionnaire, free-field voice testing, and Snellen eye chart.Single sensory impairments (either visual or auditory) were significantly and independently associated with increased risk for depression (odds ratio: 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.5-3.4; OR:1.8, CI:1.1-2.7, respectively) and decreased self-sufficiency in daily living activities (OR:1.7, CI:1.1-2.6; OR:2.1, CI:1.4-3.2, respectively). Visual dysfunction, but not hearing dysfunction, was independently associated with lower social relationships (OR:2.0, CI:1.3-3.1).The quality of life of community-dwelling elderly people is significantly linked to sensory impairment, which can be detected through simple physical examination. Mood level and social relationships are particularly affected by visual impairment, whereas self-sufficiency in daily living is more strongly related to hearing impairment.