Social activity in older people with visual impairment

Introduction. A potential factor that significantly reduces the social activity of older people is visual impairment due to various diseases. Visual impairment caused by cataract and diabetic retinopathy changes the social activity of people with the above-mentioned pathology, but it is extremely rarely analyzed by specialists and researchers, which does not allow identifying the limitations of patients in the social sphere and providing targeted medical and social care.

The purpose of the study is to study social activity in older patients with diabetic retinopathy and cataract.

Materials and methods. According to a special questionnaire, one hundred fifteen 60–74 years patients suffered from cataract and diabetic retinopathy and 60–74 years 102 people without ophthalmic diseases were surveyed based on the S.N. Fedorov National medical research center «MNTK Eye Microsurgery», Tambov.

Results. The average score of social activity in patients with cataract and diabetic retinopathy is statistically was found to be significantly lower, amounting to 3.10 ± 0.08 points versus 5.38 ± 0.09 points in people without ophthalmopathology. The main reasons that reduce social activity in patients with visual impairment are problems with making various purchases and using public or private transport. Factor analysis confirmed the contribution of these causes to the decline in social activity to be the highest and amounts to 0.876 and 0.708, respectively.

Limitations. The study was carried out just in one territory, which makes it difficult to extrapolate data to other regions.

Conclusion. It is recommended to increase social assistance to patients with cataract and diabetic retinopathy in solving problems of using transport and buying various goods.

Limitations of the study. The study was carried out in one territory, which makes it difficult to extrapolate data to other regions.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the committee on Biomedical Ethics of the S.N. Fedorov National medical research center «MNTK Eye Microsurgery», Tambov (protocol no. 421-э, dated 21.10.2021).

Contribution of the authors:
Agarkov N.M. — design development, article editing;
Lev I.V. — collection of data, preparation of an article;
Osmanov R.E. — data processing, preparation of an article.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Acknowledgements. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: April 5, 2022 / Accepted: June 16, 2022 / Published: February 26, 2024