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The Association Between Visual Impairment and Mental Disorders Publisher Pubmed



Hashemi A1 ; Hashemi H2 ; Jamali A3 ; Ghasemi H4 ; Ghazizadeh Hashemi F5 ; Khabazkhoob M6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Noor Research Center for Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Noor Ophthalmology Research Center, Noor Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Eye Research CenterFarabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Psychiatry and Psychology Research CenterRoozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Basic Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Source: Scientific Reports Published:2024


Abstract

To determine the association between visual impairment (VI) and some mental disorders using the general health questionnaire (GHQ) in individuals aged 60 years and above in Tehran, Iran. The present population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on people aged 60 and older in Tehran, Iran using multi-stage cluster sampling. After selecting the samples, examinations including visual acuity measurement, refraction, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy were performed for all participants. The GHQ was used to examine mental disorders. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the association between VI and mental disorders. Of the 3740 invitees, 3310 participated in the study (response rate: 88.50%). After applying the exclusion criteria, 2789 individuals were analyzed for this report. Mean score of physical, anxiety, social and depression disorders in people with and without VI was 3.74 ± 2.03, 5.81 ± 2.79, 7.56 ± 1.91, 1.32 ± 1.90, and 3.14 ± 1.76, 4.93 ± 2.71, 8.09 ± 1.99, 0.91 ± 1.38, respectively. The total score of GHQ in participants with and without VI was 18.43 ± 4.75 and 17.07 ± 4.19, respectively. The association between GHQ subscales and total GHQ score with VI by multiple linear regression showed that VI had a statistically significant direct association with physical symptoms (β = 0.37; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.62) and anxiety (β = 0.48; 95% CI 0.16 to 0.81). Nevertheless, depression had a borderline association with VI (β = 0.21; 95% CI − 0.03 to 0.45) and social dysfunction did not have a statistically significant association with VI in the final linear regression model and did not remain in the model. Total GHQ score had a statistically significant association with VI (β = 1.02; 95% CI 0.39 to 1.64) in the presence of covariates. Regarding the association between VI and GHQ components, the physical symptoms had the highest R2 (R2 = 0.159). Patients with VI suffer more from anxiety, depression, and physical symptoms regardless of age, sex, education, and other effective variables. The coincidence of aging with VI and the association of VI with mental disorders emphasizes the importance of a broader view of the elderly and the aging process. © 2024, The Author(s).