Association between Visual Impairment and Low Vision and Sleep Duration and Quality among Older Adults in South Africa

Little is known about the prevalence and association between visual impairment, low vision acuity, and sleep indicators (sleep duration and sleep problem) in the Indian context. We investigate this association for Indian older adults (50+ ages). Using cross-sectional data from WHO-Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO-SAGE) 2007–2008, a sample of 6560 ( Mage = 61.81, SD = 9.00) was selected for analysis. Self-reported visual impairment and performance-based low vision acuity were used as outcome variables, whereas sleep duration, problem in sleep, and medical condition with socio-demographic were used as covariates. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. In a fully adjusted model (including all covariates), vision impairment was associated with short sleep duration (<6 hr) and sleep problem, separately and together for both genders. Low vision was positively associated with short sleep duration and sleep problem, separately and together for males, whereas only long sleep (⩾9 hr) is associated with low vision acuity for females in fully adjusted model. Results suggest that sleep apnea including short sleep duration and sleep problem is the underestimated cause of visual impairment and vision acuity. Healthcare providers should consider sleep parameters (sleep duration and sleep problem) along with sleep apnea in the treatment of visual impaired older adults.

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The association between vision acuity, sleep duration, and physical activity among US adults aged 50 years and older

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 905-905

Author(s):

Shu Xu

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Visual Acuity ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Leisure Time ◽

Leisure Time Physical Activity ◽

Low Vision ◽

Physical Activities ◽

Abnormal Sleep

Abstract Studies suggested that people with low vision are more likely to have worse sleep quality and less frequent participation in physical activities compare with people with better vision. Studies also showed that physical activities is a very important factor for one’s sleep. However, there is relatively little research on the association between vision acuity, sleep, and physical activity. This study examines the relationships between vision acuity and sleep duration among middle-aged and older adults in the US, and the role of leisure-time physical activity in this relationship. Using nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2008, a cross-sectional analysis on adults age 50 years and older was conducted (n=2.247). Visual acuity was assessed by participant’s vision of better-seeing eye (i.e., none, mild, moderate, and server visual impairment), and we measured sleep duration (i.e., short, average, and long duration) and leisure-time Physical Activity (i.e., inactive/insufficiently active and sufficiently active). Descriptive analysis showed that 31.06% of older adults experienced moderate or severe visual impairment, and 46.81% respondents experienced abnormal sleep duration. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that compared to people without visual impairment, people with moderate or severe visual impairment were more likely to have longer sleep duration than normal sleep duration (OR, 1.62, p<0.05). Leisure-time physical activity was not found to significantly mediate the relationship between visual acuity and sleep duration. Other variables were controlled in the models. Findings suggest that US adults age 50+ with low vision are at greater risk of experiencing abnormal sleep duration.

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Low vision rehabilitation services: Perceived barriers and facilitators to access for older adults with visual impairment

British Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.1177/0308022618821591 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 82 (8) ◽

pp. 466-474 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jennifer Kaldenberg

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Low Vision ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Perceived Barriers ◽

Barriers And Facilitators ◽

Rehabilitation Services ◽

Coordinated Care ◽

Low Vision Rehabilitation ◽

Vision Rehabilitation

Introduction The aim of this study is to describe the barriers and facilitators to accessing low vision rehabilitation services in Massachusetts, USA, and determine differences between communities with and without existing low vision rehabilitation services for older adults with visual impairment. Method A sample of older adults with visual impairment ( n = 64) from both communities participated in the study. Barriers and facilitators to accessing the services were explored through focus groups and prioritized during one-on-one interviews, which allowed for comparison between communities. Results Twelve themes were identified: (a) bureaucracy and funding (public policy); (b) public awareness and stigma (community); (c) services available, knowledge of providers, care coordination, transportation (organizational); (d) people and lack of awareness of family/friends (interpersonal); and (e) income, health status, knowledge, self-advocacy, and time (individual). Conclusion This study provides insights into the perceived barriers and facilitators of accessing low vision rehabilitation services for older adults with vision impairment living in Massachusetts, USA. Key findings indicate the need for improved awareness of these services at the provider and consumer level, coordinated care, increased education on the efficacy of occupational therapy low vision rehabilitation services, client-centered care provided when the client is ready to accept services, and service provision that addresses sociodemographic factors.

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Inspirations

Aniridia and WAGR Syndrome ◽

10.1093/oso/9780195389302.003.0006 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica J Otis

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Low Vision ◽

Doctoral Degree ◽

Multiple Disabilities ◽

Occupational Therapist ◽

Research Assistant ◽

Normal Vision ◽

University Of Florida ◽

The University

This chapter is a collection of stories from those who do not let anything keep them from achieving their goals and who inspire us. These individuals show us there is hope and that anything is possible. My name is Eric, and I am 27 years old. I was born with familial (hereditary) aniridia. I also have nystagmus, beginnings of a cataract in my right eye, lens implant in my left eye, and corneal keratopathy in both eyes (but it is worse in my left eye). I am married to my lovely wife, Amber, and we have four children. They are: Joseph (ten years old), Sarah (seven years old), Aniston (four years old), and Christopher (two years old). The two oldest have normal vision and the two youngest have aniridia (how’s that for the law of randomization?). Currently, I work as a research assistant at the University of Florida as part of my doctoral degree. I also own my own company where I work as an occupational therapist with blind and low-vision individuals of all ages. Initially when I went to occupational therapy school, I was not interested in working with people who have vision impairments. Instead, I specialized in working with older adults. After working in the field for several years with older adults, I began to notice that many of my elderly patients had vision problems. Although I grew up with a visual impairment, I did not feel professionally qualified to address their vision issues because learning how to adapt to a visual impairment is different for someone born with a visual impairment than someone who acquires a visual impairment later in life. So I went back to school to gain additional training in working with people who have visual impairments. Part of my job as an occupational therapist is to evaluate patients for specific assistive-technology needs, recommend products that would increase their independence, and to teach patients with multiple disabilities how to use these devices.

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Differences in Sleep Duration among Four Different Population Groups of Older Adults in South Africa

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph14050502 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 502 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Karl Peltzer

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Population Groups

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Associations between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour and time in bed among 75+ community-dwelling Danish older adults

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-01856-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Li-Tang Tsai ◽

Eleanor Boyle ◽

Jan C. Brønd ◽

Gry Kock ◽

Mathias Skjødt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

Sleep Duration ◽

Activity Level ◽

Time In Bed ◽

Objectively Measured ◽

Objectively Measured Physical Activity ◽

Vector Magnitude

Abstract Background Older adults are recommended to sleep 7–8 h/day. Time in bed (TIB) differs from sleep duration and includes also the time of lying in bed without sleeping. Long TIB (≥9 h) are associated with self-reported sedentary behavior, but the association between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary behavior and TIB is unknown. Methods This study was based on cross-sectional analysis of the Healthy Ageing Network of Competence (HANC Study). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were measured by a tri-axial accelerometer (ActiGraph) placed on the dominant wrist for 7 days. Sedentary behavior was classified as < 2303 counts per minute (cpm) in vector magnitude and physical activity intensities were categorized, as 2303–4999 and ≥ 5000 cpm in vector magnitude. TIB was recorded in self-reported diaries. Participants were categorized as UTIB (usually having TIB 7–9 h/night: ≥80% of measurement days), STIB (sometimes having TIB 7–9 h/night: 20–79% of measurement days), and RTIB (rarely having TIB 7–9 h/night: < 20% of measurement days). Multinominal regression models were used to calculate the relative risk ratios (RRR) of being RTIB and STIB by daily levels of physical activity and SB, with UTIB as the reference group. The models were adjusted for age, sex, average daily nap length and physical function. Results Three hundred and fourty-one older adults (median age 81 (IQR 5), 62% women) were included with median TIB of 8 h 21 min (1 h 10 min)/day, physical activity level of 2054 (864) CPM with 64 (15) % of waking hours in sedentary behavior. Those with average CPM within the highest tertile had a lower RRR (0.33 (0.15–0.71), p = 0.005) for being RTIB compared to those within the lowest tertile of average CPM. Accumulating physical activity in intensities 2303–4999 and ≥ 5000 cpm/day did not affect the RRR of being RTIB. RRR of being RTIB among highly sedentary participants (≥10 h/day of sedentary behavior) more than tripled compared to those who were less sedentary (3.21 (1.50–6.88), p = 0.003). Conclusions For older adults, being physically active and less sedentary was associated with being in bed for 7–9 h/night for most nights (≥80%). Future longitudinal studies are warranted to explore the causal relationship sbetween physical activity and sleep duration.

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World Health Report on Vision: Aging Implications for Global Vision and Eye Health

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2933 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 807-808

Author(s):

Bonnielin Swenor ◽

Varshini Varadaraj ◽

Moon Jeong Lee ◽

Heather Whitson ◽

Pradeep Ramulu

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Vision Loss ◽

World Health ◽

World Health Report ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Eye Care ◽

Health Report ◽

Public Health Challenges ◽

Health Organization

Abstract In 2019, the World Health Organization World Report on Vision estimated that that 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment, of which almost half could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed. As the global population ages and the prevalence of visual impairment increases, inequities in eye care and the downstream health and aging consequences of vision loss will become magnified. This session will: (1) provide key information regarding the burden of eye disease and visual impairment among older adults worldwide; (2) outline a framework created to conceptualize the aging and long-term health implications of vision loss, and (3) discuss the global public health challenges to eye care and to maximizing health for older adults with visual impairments.

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