Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease Risk in Individuals with Visual Impairment: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose: Although the associations between cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases with visual impairment have been documented, the relationship between cardio-cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) and visual impairment remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between visual impairment and the risk of CCVD among older adults in South Korea.

Methods: This study included 20,398 individuals registered in the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Elderly Cohort between 2005 and 2019. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to identify pairs of individuals with and without visual impairment from the national disability registry. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze the associations between CCVD-related variables and visual impairment.

Results: The primary outcome was the occurrence of CCVD. Compared to individuals without visual impairment, those with visual impairment had a higher risk of CCVD. The prevalence of CCVD was higher in patients with visual impairment, regardless of the severity of impairment. The risk of CCVD was highest during the first 12 and 24 months following the diagnosis of visual impairment.

Conclusions: Older individuals with visual impairment are at an increased risk of CCVD, regardless of the degree of impairment. Hence, novel approaches to CCVD care are required for these individuals.