title: Sensory Impairment and Health-Related Quality of Life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensory impairment is a common condition that exerts negative effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the relationship between sensory impairment and HRQoL and identify sensory-specific differences in the HRQoL of elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010-2012), analyzing 5,260 subjects over 60 years of age who completed ophthalmic and otologic examinations. Vision and hearing impairment were measured and classified. HRQoL was determined according to the European QoL five dimension test (EQ-5D). Multivariate logistic regression analysis and analysis of covariance were performed to identify relationships between sensory impairment and HRQoL dimensions as well as differences in HRQoL scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the final adjusted multivariate model, there was a statistically higher proportion of those with dual sensory impairment who reported problems with mobility (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-5.03), usual activities (aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.16-4.64), and pain/discomfort among EQ-5D subcategories (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.07-2.97). In the EQ-5D dimensions, the means and standard deviations of vision impairment (0.86 [0.01]) and dual sensory impairment (0.84 [0.02]) appeared meaningfully lower than those for no sensory impairment (0.88 [0.00]) or hearing impairment (0.88 [0.01]); P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensory impairment reduces HRQoL in the elderly. Improvement of HRQoL in the elderly thus requires regular screening and appropriate management of sensory impairment.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nursing, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nursing, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nursing, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Nursing, Red Cross College of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: The Graduate School, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Na
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Yu
keywords: Dual sensory impairment; Elderly; Hearing impairment; Quality of life; Vision impairment