Diabetes mellitus and visual impairment: national health and nutrition examination survey, 1999-2004.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence and correlates of visual impairment (VI) among US adults with and without diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Using National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted during 1999-2004, we estimated the prevalence of presenting (correctable or uncorrectable), correctable, and uncorrectable VI among Americans 20 years or older with and without diabetes. Data were weighted to make estimates representative of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population. We used multivariate logistic regression to calculate odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals.


RESULTS
Approximately 11.0% of US adults with diabetes had some form of VI (3.8% uncorrectable and 7.2% correctable). Among those without diabetes, 5.9% had some form of VI (1.4% uncorrectable and 4.5% correctable). People with diabetes were more likely to have uncorrectable VI than those without diabetes, even after controlling for selected other factors (P < .05). Our findings also suggest a strong association between VI (correctable and uncorrectable) and older age, member of racial/ethnic minorities, lower income, and lack of health insurance, all independent of diabetes status (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
Vision loss is more common in people with diabetes than in people without diabetes. Diverse public health strategies are needed to reduce the burden of both correctable and uncorrectable VI.
Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3727, , USA. xzhang4@cdc.gov
Xinzhi
X
Zhang
Edward W
EW
Gregg
Yiling J
YJ
Cheng
Theodore J
TJ
Thompson
Linda S
LS
Geiss
Michael R
MR
Duenas
Jinan B
JB
Saaddine
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*