Prevalence and determinants of blindness, low vision, deafness and major bone fractures among elderly Omani population of Nizwa Wilayat (Nizwa elderly population study-2005).
OBJECTIVE
We conducted a survey in 2005 to estimate the prevalence and determinants of visual and hearing impairment in a population aged 60 years and above, from the Nizwa Wilayat of Oman. We also correlated them with major bone fracture.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Vision was tested on Snellen's 'E' chart. Persons with vision less than 20/200 were reexamined by an ophthalmologist to find cause of impairment. Hearing was tested by a screening audiometer. Self-reported information on fracture of major bones was confirmed by review of case records. The prevalence, 95% confidence intervals (CI), and number of visually impaired individuals were calculated.


METHODS
Univariate method and parametric tests were used for analysis.


RESULTS
We examined 1,639 (80.3%) Omani persons aged 60 years and above. The prevalence of blindness (vision less than 20/200 in the better eye) was 37.4% (95% CI 35.7-39.1). Blindness was significantly higher in females (Odd's Ratio = 2.1) but was similar in urban and rural Nizwa (OR = 0.73). The prevalence of vision impairment (20/60 to 10/200) was 36.0% (95% CI 34.3-37.7). Cataract was the principal cause in 50% of the blind. The prevalence of glaucoma, corneal opacity, and chronic trachoma was 3.1%, 66.8%, and 53.2%, respectively. Among participants, 36.1% had diabetes. Hearing impairment was noted in 33.5% and profound hearing loss was noted in 3.6% of participants. In the past year, 1.4% of participants had a major bone fracture.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual and hearing impairment and blinding eye diseases were common among senior Omani citizens.
Eye & Ear Health Care, Ministry of Health, Oman.
Rajiv
R
Khandekar
Asiya
A
Al Riyami
Mahmood
M
Attiya
Magdi
M
Morsi
D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D003638:Deafness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*