摘要：Analysis of data from a nationally representative sample of US adults (n=195801) showed that concurrent hearing and visual impairment prevalence rates were highest for participants older than 79 years of age (16.6%); a 3-fold increase in age-adjusted rates of reported hearing and visual impairment was observed for Native Americans compared with Asian Americans. Research on preventing concurrent hearing and visual impairment and countering its consequences is warranted, especially in population subgroups, such as Native and older Americans. Hearing impairment (HI), visual impairment (VI), and concurrent impairment (HI+VI) have marked effects on cognitive, psychosocial, and functional health and even on the risk of mortality. 1 – 8 There is some evidence that the presence of more than 1 sensory impairment increases morbidity risk relative to VI or HI alone. 4 , 9 Despite continued improvements in the health and disability status of older US adults, there is no evidence that VI or HI rates reported by adults are declining. 10 , 11 Unfortunately, prevalence estimates of HI+VI determined via clinical assessment are not available for the US population. This article uses nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to assess the prevalence of HI+VI in community-residing US adults, aged 18 years and older.
