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Associations Between Visual, Hearing, and Dual Sensory Impairments and History of Motor Vehicle Collision Involvement of Older Drivers
Author(s) -
Green Kimberly A.,
McGwin Gerald,
Owsley Cynthia
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.12091
Subject(s) - medicine , audiology , visual acuity , visual impairment , confidence interval , population , hearing loss , physical medicine and rehabilitation , ophthalmology , psychiatry , environmental health
Objectives To examine the association between visual and hearing impairment and motor vehicle collision ( MVC ) involvement in older drivers. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting N orth central A labama. Participants Population‐based sample of 2,000 licensed‐drivers aged 70 and older. Measurements Visual acuity was measured using the E lectronic V isual A cuity test. Contrast sensitivity was measured using the P elli‐ R obson chart. Presence of subjective hearing loss and other health conditions were determined using a general health questionnaire. Information regarding MVC s for all participants spanning the 5 years before study enrollment was obtained from the A labama D epartment of P ublic S afety. Results After adjustment for age, race, sex, number of miles driven, number of medical conditions, general cognitive status, and visual processing speed, older drivers with visual acuity and hearing impairment (rate ratio ( RR ) = 1.52, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 1.01–2.30), contrast sensitivity impairment alone ( RR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.00–2.02), and contrast sensitivity and hearing impairment ( RR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.62–3.57) had higher MVC rates than drivers with no visual or hearing impairments. Drivers with visual acuity loss alone or hearing loss alone did not have MVC rates that were significantly different from those of the no impairment group after adjustment for multiple variables. Conclusion Older drivers with dual sensory impairment are at greater MVC risk than those with a visual acuity or hearing deficit alone. A combined screening approach of screening for hearing and visual impairment may be a useful tool to identify older drivers at risk of MVC involvement.