Visual and hearing impairment and retirement in older adults: A population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Impaired vision and hearing are common among older adults and have been shown to reduce functional independence and to reduce quality of life. This cohort study investigated the cross-sectional and temporal associations between objectively measured dual sensory impairment (DSI) and retirement from employment.

STUDY DESIGN: 2409 Blue Mountains Eye Study participants aged 55+ years at baseline were included for analyses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual impairment was defined as visual acuity less than 20/40 (better eye), and hearing impairment as average pure-tone air conduction threshold >25dB HL (500-4000Hz, better ear). Employment status was questioned at each examination over 10 years.

RESULTS: At baseline, 650 (27.0%) were employed and 1759 (73.0%) were retired. Cross-sectional analysis showed that participants with moderate to severe hearing loss, compared with those with normal hearing, had greater odds of being retired (multivariable-adjusted OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.05-3.66). Participants presenting with concurrent visual impairment and moderate to severe hearing loss versus participants with no sensory loss had a significantly lower mean retirement age, 57.1 versus 58.7 years (multivariable-adjusted p-value=0.04). Participants with any hearing loss at baseline had significantly higher odds of being retired by the 10-year follow-up (age-sex adjusted OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.00-3.30); this became marginally non-significant after adjusting for all other covariates (multivariable-adjusted OR 1.74; 95% CI 0.95-3.17). No associations were observed between DSI and the incidence of retirement.

CONCLUSIONS: Sensory impairment in older adults was independently associated with the decision to retire.