Prevalence, Causes and Social Factors of Visual Impairment among Chinese Adults: Based on a National Survey

Chao Guo, Zhenjie Wang, Ping He, Gong Chen and Xiaoying Zheng
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Chao Guo: Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Zhenjie Wang: Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Ping He: Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Gong Chen: Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Xiaoying Zheng: Institute of Population Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Visual impairment has become a global challenge, especially for developing countries. This study aims to estimate the prevalence, causes and social factors of visual impairment among Chinese adults. Data were from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional study. The study population were 1,909,199 non-institutionalized adults aged 18 years and older in mainland China. In the survey, low vision and blindness were checked by ophthalmologists according to the WHO best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) criteria. Population weighted numbers and prevalence of low vision and blindness with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated where appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the social factors of visual impairment. The weighted prevalence of visual impairment was 17.17 (95% CI, 16.84–17.50) per 1000 Chinese adults aged 18 years and older. Cataract (57.35%), disorders of choroid and retina (9.80%), and disorders of cornea (6.49%) contributed more than 70 percent to the visual impairment in Chinese adults. Older age groups, young or middle-aged male adults, female elders, illiterate, rural dwellers, non-eastern residents, singles, unemployment, and from family with lower income were associated with visual impairment. More efforts are warranted to enhance treatment and rehabilitation among people with eye disorders to prevent visual impairment.

Keywords: visual impairment; blindness; low vision; China; prevalence; cause; social factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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