Visually impaired Swedish children. The 1980 cohort study--aspects on mortality.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of the burden of mortality in a cohort of visually impaired children in a geographically defined area.


METHODS
A 19-year follow-up of medical records and death certificates.


CONCLUSIONS
Of the initial 128 patients, born 1962-76, 17 (13%) had died, giving a highly significant increase in mortality compared to the equivalent age-specific Swedish population (p-value <0.000001). All deceased had additional impairments. Respiratory causes of death were found in 12/17 cases. The primary ophthalmological diagnosis was cerebral visual impairment in 8 cases, optic atrophy in 6 cases, one each of congenital cataract, microphthalmus and chorioretinitis. A more pronounced level of visual impairment gave an increased risk of mortality. A significantly higher mortality rate among multiply impaired was seen in the combined group with 'childhood blindness' (visual acuity <0.05) and 'visual impairment, undetermined or unknown' opposed to the group with 'low vision' (visual acuity 0.05-<0.3) (p=0.047).
Blohmé
J
J
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Lund, Sweden.
Tornqvist
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D001766:Blindness / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*