Dual sensory impairment and healthcare use: Findings from a nationally representative sample

AIM: Dual sensory impairment (DSI) is a common phenomenon in later life. However, only a few studies investigated whether DSI is associated with healthcare use. Therefore, our purpose was to determine whether DSI is associated with healthcare use among older adults.

METHODS: Data were taken from the most recent sixth wave of the German Ageing Survey. When self-reported hearing problems and visual impairment were both present, individuals were classified as dual sensory impaired. The frequency of general practitioner (GP) visits, frequency of specialist visits and hospitalization were used as outcome measures. Covariates (mainly based on self-reports) were selected based on Andersen's behavioral model. In total, 5081 observations were in our analytical sample.

RESULTS: Among individuals with DSI, mean ± SD number of GP visits was 4.4 ± 4.7, mean ± SD number of specialist visits was 3.7 ± 5.0, and 23.2% were hospitalized in the past 12 months. Among individuals without sensory impairment, mean ± SD number of GP visits was 3.0 ± 3.6, mean ± SD number of specialist visits was 2.4 ± 3.4, and 17% were hospitalized in the past 12 months. Negative binomial regressions revealed that the presence of DSI was associated with increased specialist visits (incidence rate ratio = 1.17 [95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.28]), whereas it was not associated with GP visits and hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS: Even after adjusting for several covariates, individuals with DSI had higher specialist visits than individuals without DSI. As the presence of DSI is associated with an increased economic burden, efforts to prevent or delay DSI may be beneficial. Geriatr Gerontol Int ••; ••: ••-•• Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.