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Relationship between fear of falling and mobility varies with visual function among older adults
Author(s) -
Donoghue Orna A,
Ryan Harriet,
Duggan Eoin,
Finucane Ciaran,
Savva George M,
Cronin Hilary,
Loughman James,
Kenny Rose Anne
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geriatrics and gerontology international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1447-0594
pISSN - 1444-1586
DOI - 10.1111/ggi.12174
Subject(s) - fear of falling , visual acuity , medicine , contrast (vision) , confounding , logistic regression , quartile , poison control , injury prevention , psychology , audiology , ophthalmology , medical emergency , confidence interval , artificial intelligence , computer science
Aim The present study examined the association between vision, fear of falling and fear‐related activity restriction, and assessed the effect of vision on the relationship between fear of falling and mobility, using data from a nationally representative sample of community‐dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. Methods Participants ( n = 5003) completed an interview and health assessment (including T imed U p‐and‐ G o, vision and cognitive tests). Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were assessed using an Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study logMAR chart and F unctional V ision A nalyzer, respectively. Participants self‐reported their vision as excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. They were assigned to no fear of falling, fear without activity restriction and fear with activity restriction groups. Logistic regression models examined the relationship between vision, fear of falling and activity restriction. Linear regression models were used to examine the main and interaction effects of fear of falling, self‐reported vision, visual acuity, and contrast sensitivity on mobility after adjusting for confounders. Results Poorer self‐reported vision was independently associated with fear of falling and fear‐related activity restriction ( P < 0.05), but visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were not. Participants with the lowest visual acuity and contrast sensitivity levels, combined with fear‐related activity restriction, had slower T imed U p‐and‐ G o than those in the highest visual performance quartiles ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Participants' perceptions of visual function were related to fear of falling and activity restriction, but this was not explained by other visual factors measured here. However, poorer visual acuity and contrast sensitivity did moderate the relationship between fear‐related activity restriction and mobility, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive vision assessment especially in individuals with fear of falling. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 827–836.