Vision impairment predicts 5 year mortality

Aim-To describe predictors of mortality in the 5 year follow up of the Melb ourne Visual Impairment Project (VIP) cohort. Methods-The Melbourne VIP was a population based study of the distribution and determinants of age related eye disease in a cluster random sample of M elbourne residents aged 40 years and older. Baseline examinations were cond ucted between 1992 and 1994. In 1997, 5 year follow up examinations of the original cohort commenced. Causes of death were obtained from the National Death Index for all reported deaths. Results-Of the original 3271 participants, 231 (7.1%) were reported to have died in the intervening 5 years. Of the remaining 3040 participants eligib le to return for follow up examinations, 2594 (85% of eligible) did partici pate, 51 (2%) had moved interstate or overseas, 83 (3%) could not be traced , and 312 (10%) refused to participate. Best corrected visual acuity <6/12 (OR=2.34) was associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality, as were increasing age (OR=1.09), male sex (OR=1.62), increased duration of cigarette smoking (OR=2.06 for smoking >30 years), increased duration of h ypertension (OR=1.51 for duration >10 years), and arthritis (OR=1.42). Conclusions-Even mild visual impairment increases the risk of death more th an twofold. Further research is needed to determine why decreased visual ac uity is associated with increased risk of mortality.