title: Marital status and its relationship with the risk and pattern of visual impairment in a multi-ethnic Asian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine whether marital status is a significant determinant of visual impairment (VI) in urban multi-ethnic Asian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a population-based study of Singapore-resident ethnic Malays, Indians and Chinese aged ≥40 years. Ophthalmic examination included the assessment of presenting and best-corrected visual acuity (PVA and BCVA) using standardized procedures. Information regarding marital status and socioeconomic status were obtained from an interviewer-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 10 033 participants, 7756 (77.3%) were married; 589 (5.9%) were single; 407 (4.1%) were separated and 1265 (12.6%) were widowed. Being single (never married) or widowed were significantly associated with best-corrected VI (BCVA < 20/40) and presenting VI (PVA < 20/40) (odds ratios: 1.37-1.59) compared with married people even after adjustment for age, sex and socioeconomic status. A marginal prediction model showed that the negative effect of unmarried status on VI increased with age and was stronger among Malays and Indians, but the influence did not vary with gender, educational level and diabetic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unmarried status is associated with VI, particularly among elderly Malays and Indians. Our findings suggest that single and widowed adults may benefit from specific social support and eye care programmes.
authors: Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, 11 Third Hospital Ave, #05-00, Singapore 168751, Singapore.
authors: Yingfeng
authors: Y
authors: Zheng
authors: Ecosse L
authors: EL
authors: Lamoureux
authors: Peggy P C
authors: PP
authors: Chiang
authors: Ainur
authors: A
authors: Rahman Anuar
authors: Tien Y
authors: TY
authors: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004243:Divorce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D012847:Single Person / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D017805:Widowhood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Asia; blindness; epidemiology; living alone; marital status; population-based study; visual impairment