Dual sensory impairment and utilization of rehabilitation service among elderly people in China

  Objective   To analyze the prevalence rate, distribution, and determinants of combined visual and hearing impairment and the utilization of rehabilization service among older adults in China and to provide evidences for prevention, treatment and rehabilization of the disease.

  Methods   Data on 354 859 residents aged 60 years and above were extracted from the second wave of National Sample Survey on Disability in China conducted in 2006. Chi-square test and unconditioned binary logistic regression were used to explore the distribution characteristics and determinants of combined visual and hearing impairment.

  Results   The prevalence of dual sensory impairment among the participants was 1.56%. Among the elderly with dual sensory impairment, the utilization rate was 30.31% for overall rehabilitation services, 29.82% for medication and assistance services, and 4.2% for rehabilitation training. The results of unconditional logistic regression analysis demonstrated that aged ≥ 70 years and living in rural regions were risk factors for dual sensory impairment, while, with the education of primary school and above, married, with the household annual per capita income of ≥ 1 600 yuan (RMB), and residing in regions with moderate or higher human development index (HDI) were protective factors against dual sensory impairment among the elderly. The results also revealed that for the elderly with dual sensory impairment, those being female, married, with the household annual per capita income of ≥ 1 600 yuan RMB, and residing in regions with higher HDI were more likely to utilize rehabilitation services; but those aged ≥ 70 years and living in rural regions or regions with moderate HDI were less likely to have rehabilitation services.

  Conclusion   The utilization of rehabilitation services was low among elderly residents with dual sensory impairment in China and several social and personal factors had influences on the prevalence of dual sensory impairment in the elderly residents and on the utilization of rehabilitation services in the elderly with dual sensory impairment.