Physical and Psychosocial Challenges as Predictors of Vision Difficulty in Children: A Nationally Representative Survey Analysis

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To elicit associations between vision difficulties and physical or psychosocial challenges in children in the United States.

Methods

Children aged 2–17 years old from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey with data pertaining to vision difficulty were included in our retrospective, population-based analysis. Our primary aim was investigating physical and psychosocial challenges as predictors of vision difficulty. Logistic regression models were performed on Stata version 17.0 (StataCorp LLC, College Station, Texas). Analyses were accompanied by an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

A total of 7,373 children had data pertaining to their level of vision difficulty and were included in our sample. In our multivariable analysis, children with a good/fair (OR = 1.84, 95% CI = [1.31, 2.60], p < 0.01), or poor (OR = 5.08, 95% CI = [1.61, 16.04], p < 0.01) general health status had higher odds of vision difficulty relative to children with an excellent/very good health status. Furthermore, children with difficulties hearing (OR = 8.67, 95% CI = [5.25, 14.31], p < 0.01), communicating (OR = 1.96, 95% CI = [1.18, 3.25], p < 0.01), learning (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = [1.27, 2.93], p < 0.01), and making friends (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = [1.12, 3.36], p = 0.02) had higher odds of vision difficulty. Nonetheless, the following factors were only predictors of vision difficulty in our univariable analysis: requiring equipment for mobility (p < 0.01), experiencing anxiety (p < 0.01), and experiencing depression (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Several factors pertaining to physical and psychosocial challenges in children are associated with vision difficulty. Future research should further explore potential causal links between vision difficulty and physical or psychosocial factors to aid in coordinating public health efforts dedicated to vision health equity.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• National Health Interview Survey
• psychosocial factors
• vision difficulty

Acknowledgments

Authors Andrew Mihalache, Ryan S. Huang, Nikhil S. Patil, Marko M. Popovic, Miguel Cruz-Pimentel, Ashwin Mallipatna, Peter J. Kertes, Rajeev H. Muni, and Radha P. Kohly have equally fulfilled the authorship criteria and contributions outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Information reported in this manuscript has not been previously presented at a conference.

Disclosure statement

MMP: Financial support (to institution) – PSI Foundation, Fighting Blindness Canada. PJK: Advisory board – Novartis, Alcon, Bayer, Roche, Allergan, Novelty Nobility; Financial support (to institution) – Bayer, Roche, Novartis; Financial support – Novartis, Bayer, Roche, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Zeiss; Equity owner – ArcticDx. RHM: Consultant – Alcon, Apellis, AbbVie, Bayer, Bausch Health, Roche; Financial Support (to institution) – Alcon, AbbVie, Bayer, Novartis, Roche. RPK: Financial Support (to institution) – Bayer, Novartis.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2024.2354704.

Additional information

Funding

The research of Dr. Radha P. Kohly and Dr. Rajeev H. Muni is supported by the Silber TARGET Fund.