Risk factors for self-reported cataract symptoms, diagnosis, and surgery uptake among older adults in India: Findings from the WHO SAGE data

ABSTRACT

Visual impairments have a substantial impact on the well-being of older people, but their impact among older adults in low- and middle-income countries is under-researched. We examined risk factors for self-reported cataract symptoms, diagnosis, and surgery uptake in India.

Cross-sectional data from the nationally representative WHO SAGE data (2007–2008) for India were analysed. We focused on a sub-sample of 6558 adults aged 50+, applying descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Nearly 1-in-5 respondents self-reported diagnosed cataracts, more than three-fifths (62%; n = 3879) reported cataract symptoms, and over half (51.8%) underwent surgery. Increasing age, self-reported diabetes, arthritis, low visual acuity, and moderate or severe vision problems were factors associated with self-reported diagnosed cataracts. Odds of cataract symptoms were higher with increasing age and among those with self-reported arthritis, depressive symptoms, low visual acuity, and with moderate or severe vision problems. Odds of cataract surgery were also higher with increasing age, self-reported diabetes, depressive symptoms, and among those with low visual acuity.

A public health approach of behavioural modification, well-structured national outreach eye care services, and inclusion of local basic eye care services are recommended.

KEYWORDS:

• Older adults
• cataracts
• cataract symptoms
• cataract surgery
• risk factors
• India

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical statement

Data for this study come from Wave 1 (2007–2008) of the cross-sectional WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) for India. The data for our study are fully anonymised by WHO, and can be downloaded by registering through the WHO Data Archive website (http://apps.who.int/healthinfo/systems/surveydata/index.php/catalog/65).

The WHO SAGE study received human subject ethics council approval from research review boards local to each site, and from the WHO Ethical Review Committee. Written Informed consent was obtained prior to interview and examination. Our study is a secondary analysis of SAGE de-identified, publicly available data, and does not require ethics committee approval.

Authors’ contributions

SA conceptualised the study and wrote the first draft. SG did the data analysis. JF provided important intellectual comments, suggestions and edits to the manuscript. All authors approve the final version of the paper.