Population prevalence of dual sensory loss in community-dwelling US adults 71 years and older: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends Study

Emmanuel E Garcia Morales; Nicholas S Reed; Yunshu Zhou; Sahar Assi; Varshini Varadaraj; Frank R Lin; Joshua R Ehrlich; Jennifer A Deal

doi:10.1111/jgs.18648

Population prevalence of dual sensory loss in community-dwelling US adults 71 years and older: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends Study

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2024 Feb;72(2):536-543. doi: 10.1111/jgs.18648. Epub 2023 Oct 27.

Authors

Emmanuel E Garcia Morales^{1

2}, Nicholas S Reed^{1

2

3}, Yunshu Zhou⁴, Sahar Assi^{1

2}, Varshini Varadaraj^{5

6}, Frank R Lin^{1

2

3}, Joshua R Ehrlich^{4

7

8}, Jennifer A Deal^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
² Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
⁵ Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
⁶ Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
⁷ Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
⁸ Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

PMID: 37888893
PMCID: PMC10922129 (available on 2025-02-01)
DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18648

Abstract

Background: Existing estimates for the prevalence of dual sensory loss (vision and hearing) among older adults are either based on self-reported measures or aggregated for older age groups. Current and detailed estimates based on objective measures are needed for public health, clinical, and policy decision-making.

Methods: We estimated the prevalence of dual sensory loss (DSL) using National Health Aging Trends Study (NHATS) Round 11 data (2021). We restricted to community-dwelling adults aged ≥71 years with complete sensory testing data (N = 2579). Hearing loss was defined by a 4-frequency (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) pure tone average for the better-hearing ear (>25 decibel hearing level). Vision loss was defined by the presence of distance, near (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution >0.30), or contrast sensitivity loss (log contrast sensitivity <1.55). Participants were categorized into three groups: no sensory loss, single sensory loss (vision or hearing loss), and DSL (hearing and vision). Sensory loss prevalence was estimated by age group and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results: In weighted analyses, among older Medicare beneficiaries (53% female, 7% Black, 6% Hispanic), 28% had no sensory loss and 22% had DSL. Prevalence of DSL increased with age. Most adults aged ≥90 years experienced DSL (59%), as opposed to single (39%) or no sensory loss (2%). DSL prevalence was greater among older adults with low education attainment (34%) and household income (43%). A higher proportion of older adults with a college education (17%), or from wealthier households (16%), had no sensory loss.

Conclusions: One in 5 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥71 years have DSL, increasing to 3 in 5 for those aged ≥90 years. Prevalence is higher among older adults with low education attainment and from low-income households, characteristics associated with low treatment. Policies increasing access and affordability of vision and hearing care could benefit millions of older Americans experiencing sensory loss.

Keywords: hearing loss; population prevalence; sensory loss; vision loss.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aging
Female
Hearing Loss* / epidemiology
Humans
Independent Living*
Male
Medicare
Prevalence
United States / epidemiology
Vision Disorders / epidemiology

Abstract

MeSH terms

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