Impact of multiple impairments on quality of life, hospitalisations and  use of aged-care services

Chia, Ee-Munn; Wang, Jie Jin; Rochtchina, Elena; Mitchell, Paul

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00333.x

Topics

To the Editor: Healthy ageing is listed as a National Research Priority by the Australian Government. The higher prevalence of sensory, cognitive and mobility impairments in older people presents a major challenge in achieving this goal. The effects of single impairments are recognised,1,2 but the cumulative effects of multiple impairments have not been reported from population-based samples.

Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au

1. Reuben DB, Mui S, Damesyn M, et al. Combined hearing and visual impairment and depression in a population aged 75 years and older. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2002; 17: 808-813.
2. Lupsakko T, Mantyjarvi M, Kautiainen H, et al. The prognostic value of sensory impairment in older persons. J Am Geriatr Soc 1999; 47: 930-935.
3. Foran S, Rose K, Wang JJ, Mitchell P. Correctable visual impairment in an older population: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Am J Ophthalmol 134: 712-719.
4. Sanson-Fisher RW, Perkins JJ. Adaptation and validation of the SF-36 Health Survey for use in Australia. J Clin Epidemiol 1998; 51: 961-967.
5. Fryback DG, Dasbach EJ, Klein R, et al. The Beaver Dam Health Outcomes Study: initial catalog of health-state quality factors. Med Decis Making 1993; 13: 89-102.

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