title: Impact of combined sensory impairments on health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the impact of single/combined sensory impairment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 1102 participants (mean age = 51.4 years) of the Dortmund Health Study were analysed. HRQOL was assessed by the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Sensory impairment was measured with validated tests. Each impairment variable was coded into four categories (no impairment, mild, moderate, and severe impairment). Data were analysed with general linear models adjusted for possible confounders. The reference category was the group of no sensory impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensory impairments did not influence the mental component score (MCS). Severe auditory impairment (-3.7, 95 % CI -6.3, -1.2) and olfactory impairment (-3.3, 95 % CI -5.6, -1.1) were related to a reduction in the physical component score (PCS). Auditory plus visual and gustatory plus visual impairments had a stronger effect on PCS than the respective impairments alone. For most of the other impairment combinations, additive effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensory impairments reduced self-reported physical but not mental health scores. Combined sensory impairment worsened the impact of single sensory impairment on health.
authors: Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Münster, Domagkstraße 3, 48149, Münster, Germany, khil@uni-muenster.de.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Khil
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Wellmann
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Berger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology