Email this article Social isolation in patients with age-related visual pathology
- Authors: Popova N.V.1
-
Affiliations:
- S.N. Fedorov National medical research center «MNTK Eye Microsurgery»
- Issue: Vol 27, No 1 (2024)
- Pages: 5-12
- Section: ORIGINAL STUDY ARTICLE
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1560-9537/article/view/275775
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.17816/MSER629132
- ID: 275775
Cite item
Open Access
Access granted
Subscription Access
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Social isolation and loneliness can affect individuals of all ages, but in many countries, they are particularly prevalent among older adults. Despite this, the social isolation of patients with sensory impairments, especially visual deficits, has not been extensively studied.
AIM: To study the social isolation in patients with age-related visual pathology.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: 136 patients aged 60–74 with non-operated cataract and 136 age-matched individuals without any form of cataract were examined. When identifying the social isolation syndrome, a modified version of the social isolation index was used, consisting of five points: marital status or living situation, interaction with children, interaction with relatives, interaction with friends, and societal participation. Relative risk indicators (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to study the association with social isolation.
RESULTS: Elderly patients with non-operated cataracts showed a significant increase in social isolation associated with the duration of the condition (OR=2.21; 95% CI 2.03–2.54; p <0.01), average per capita income of patients (OR=1.82; 95% CI 1.63–2.15; p <0.01), presence of arterial hypertension (OR=1.53; 95% CI 1.41–1.82; p <0.01), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR=1.47; 95% CI 1.38–1.69; p <0.01). A higher risk of social isolation in patients with non–operated cataracts is observed in severe visual impairment (OR=3.56; 95% CI 3.17–3.82; p <0.001).
CONCLUSION: Social isolation among elderly patients with non-operated cataract is associated with the duration of age-related cataract and per capita income. The strongest association with social isolation was observed in patients with severe visual impairment caused by age-related cataracts.
Full Text
##article.viewOnOriginalSite##About the authors
Natalia V. Popova
S.N. Fedorov National medical research center «MNTK Eye Microsurgery»
Author for correspondence.
Email: vitalaxen@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6557-4764
SPIN-code: 4770-6919
Russian Federation, Tambov
References
- Kino S, Stickley A, Arakawa Y, et al. Social isolation, loneliness, and their correlates in older Japanese adults. Psychogeriatrics. 2023;23(3):475–486. doi: 10.1111/psyg.12957
- Kobayashi LC, Steptoe A. Social isolation, loneliness, and health behaviors at older ages: Longitudinal cohort study. Ann Behav Med. 2018;57(7):582–593. doi: 10.1093/abm/kax033
- Steptoe A, Shankar A, Demakakos P, et al. Social isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality in older men and women. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013;110(15):5797–5801. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1219686110
- Holt-Lunstad JS, Baker TB, Baker M, et al. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015;10(2):227–237. doi: 10.1177/1745691614568352
- Barnes TL, MacLeod S, Tkatch R, et al. Cumulative effect of loneliness and social isolation on health outcomes among older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2022;26(7):1327–1334. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1940096
- Yang K, Victor C. Age and loneliness in 25 European nations. Ageing Soc. 2011;31(7):1368–1388. doi: 10.1017/S0144686X1000139X
- Agarkov NM, Yablokov MM, Konyaev DA, et al. Cognitive and anxiety-depressive disorders in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Bulletin of the Russian Military Medical Academy. 2021;23(2):83–90. doi: 10.17816/brmma71307
- Agarkov NM, Fabrikantov OL, Lev IV, et al. Features of the complement system in primary open-angle glaucoma and dry eye syndrome in the elderly. Medicinskaya immunologiya. 2022;24(2):301–308. doi: 10.15789/1563-0625-FOT-2394
- Gurko TS, Agarkov NM, Lev IV, et al. Features of postural disorders and connections with the blood complement system in falls syndrome in the elderly. Research Results in Biomedicine. 2022;8(2):259–267. doi: 10.18413/2658-6533-2022-8-2-0-1
- Tanner CT, Yorgason JB, Richardson S, et al. Sensory Disabilities and Social Isolation Among Hispanic Older Adults: Toward Culturally Sensitive Measurement of Social Isolation. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2022;77(11):2091–2100. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbac001
- Yorgason JB, Tanner CT, Richardson S, et al. The longitudinal association of late-life visual and hearing difficulty and cognitive function: The role of social isolation. J Aging Health. 2022;34(6–8):765–774. doi: 10.1177/08982643211063338
- Wang Q, Zhang S, Wang Y, et al. Dual sensory impairment as a predictor of loneliness and isolation in older adults: National cohort study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2022;8(11):e39314. doi: 10.2196/39314
- Ayvazyan SA. Applied statistics. Fundamentals of econometrics. Moscow: Unity; 2001. 432 р. (In Russ).
- Gardiner C, Geldenhuys G, Gott M. Interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people: an integrative review. Health Soc Care Community. 2018;26(2):147–157. doi: 10.1111/hsc.12367
Supplementary files
