Visual impairment and depression among socially vulnerable older adults in Armenia

Abstract

Objectives: Visual impairment in older adults is a major public health problem. Untreated visual impairment might negatively impact physical and psychological health. This study assessed the association between visual impairment and depression among socially vulnerable older adults (those aged 50 and above) in Armenia.Method: The survey and eye screenings were carried out among 339 participants who were the residents of retirement homes and single older adults in the households. The study team used Golovin–Sivtsev chart and cycloplegic skiascopy to measure visual impairment and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale to measure depression.Results: The prevalence of visual impairment in the sample was 13.3%. Almost 24.0% of participants reported depression symptoms. Participants living in the retirement homes had substantially higher rates of visual impairment (21.5%) and depression (28.0%) than those living in households (9.3% and 15.0%, respectively). The odds of having depression were higher among those with visual impairment compared to those without after adjusting for confounders (OR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.29–5.87). Having at least one non-communicable disease was associated with depression (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 1.28–4.75). Living in the retirement home was marginally significantly associated with having depression. Other confounders included age, gender, education, physical activity, and smoking.Conclusion: Visual impairment was significantly associated with depression in socially vulnerable older adults in Armenia. Timely eye screenings in similar population groups could lead to early detection of visual impairment and prevention of visual loss and associated mental health problems.

Keywords:

• visual impairment
• depression
• older adults

Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the staff of the American University of Armenia School of Public Health, particularly its Meghrigian Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology, for their technical support during the preparation of the study. We are also thankful to the staff of the retirement homes and the center for single older adults in Armenia for their support in implementing this study.

This research was conducted at the Garo Meghrigian Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology, School of Public Health, American University of Armenia.

Additional information

Funding

This research work received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit section.