J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2016 Sep;57(9):1451-1459. 10.3341/jkos.2016.57.9.1451.

Visual Acuity and Falls in South Korea: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012

• Kang MJ
• Rim TH
• Kim SS
• The Epidemiologic Survey Committee in the Korean Ophthalmological Society

• KMID: 2351877
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2016.57.9.1451

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the influence of visual acuity (VA) and ocular condition on falls.
METHODS
We analyzed 28,899 Korean adults using cross-sectional data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2012). Associations between best corrected VA based on better or worse seeing eye and ocular condition and falls were identified using multivariable logistic regression. We included sociodemographic factors and comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, acute myocardial infarction/angina, and stroke as independent variables. VA was divided into 1.0, 0.8, 0.5-0.63, and <0.5.
RESULTS
Among 28,899 subjects, falls occurred in 511. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, low VA based on the better seeing eye was significantly associated with falls (VA 1.0 as a reference group; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.72 in VA of 0.8; aOR = 1.86, 95% CI, 1.07-3.24 in VA of 0.5-0.63; and aOR = 1.21, 95% CI, 0.58-2.54 in VA of <0.5; p = 0.025 for trend). There was no association between VA based on the worse seeing eye and falls. Early age-related macular degeneration was associated with falls in univariable analysis (OR = 2.24) and age- and sex-adjusted analysis (aOR = 1.52), but not in multivariable analysis. In terms of age subgroups, subjects with VA of 0.5-0.63 were more likely to have experienced falls compared with subjects with VA of 1.0 (aOR = 5.83, 95% CI, 1.58-21.54) among subjects 50 years of age or younger. An increasing trend of falls with decreasing VA among subjects between 50 and 70 years of age was observed (p = 0.033 for trend). However, no such association was observed in elderly subjects ≥70 years of age.
CONCLUSIONS
VA should be considered for preventing falls because lower VA is associated with increased risk of falls.

Keyword

Falls; Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES); Low vision; Visual acuity

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls*
Adult
Aged
Arthritis
Comorbidity
Humans
Hypertension
Korea*
Logistic Models
Macular Degeneration
Nutrition Surveys*
Odds Ratio
Stroke
Vision, Low
Visual Acuity*

Reference

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