Severe Vision Impairment and Blindness in Hospitalized Patients: A Nationwide Study
Abstract Background: Outcomes among hospitalized patients with severe vision impairment or blindness have not been extensively explored. This study sought to determine clinical and resource utilization outcomes in patients with severe vision impairment/blindness (SVI/B). Because the obesity epidemic is also on the rise and underrecognized in hospital settings, we also sought to understand its impact among patients with SVI/B.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample for the year 2017; hospitalized adults with and without SVI/B were compared. In addition, for all patients with SVI/B, we compared those with and without obesity. Multiple logistic regression and linear analysis were used to evaluate mortality, disposition, length of stay, and hospital charges. We adjusted for age, sex, race, comorbidities, insurance, and income.Results: 30,420,907 adults were hospitalized, of whom 37,200 had SVI/B. Patients with SVI/B were older (mean age ± SEM: 66.4±0.24 vs. 57.9±0.09 years, p <0.01), less likely to be female (50% vs 57.7%, p <0.01), more frequently insured by Medicare (75.7% vs 49.2%, p <0.01), and had more comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3: 53.2% vs 27.8%, p <0.01). Patients with SVI/B had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (3.9% vs 2.2%; p<0.01), and they were less likely discharged home (adjusted Odds Ratio {aOR} =0.54, [Confidence Interval (CI) 0.51-0.58]; p <0.01) compared to those without visual impairment. Hospital charges were not significantly different (adjusted Mean Difference {aMD} = $247 CI [-$2,474-2,929]; p=0.85) but length of stay was longer (aMD= 0.5 days CI [0.3-0.7]; p<0.01) for those with SVI/B. Visually impaired patients who were also obese had higher total hospital charges compared to those without obesity (mean difference: $9,821 [CI $1,375-$18,268]; p =0.02).Conclusion: Patients admitted to American hospitals in 2017 who had severe vision impairment or blindness had worse clinical outcomes and greater resources utilization. Hospital-based healthcare professionals should recognize that because those with visual impairment are at risk for worse outcomes, extra attention to detail may be warranted to minimize the propagation of such disparity.