Objectives: To explore the longitudinal association between visual impairment (VI) and depression among adults 45 years and older in China based on a nationally representative follow-up dataset.
Setting: Participants in China from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were included.
Participants: A total of 6748 participants from two waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2011-2018 were included for analysis by age group.
Primary and secondary outcome measures: VI and depression were defined by self-diagnosis and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale-10, respectively. Lagged dependent variable regression models with ordinary least squares estimation were used to evaluate the association between VI and depression. Age was divided into three groups, that is, 45-54, 55-64, and 65 years and older, to explore the relationship between VI and depression in different age groups.
Results: In our study sample, VI remarkably predicted an increase in depressive scores. The magnitude of depressive scores increased among those with VI points greater than 3.517 (β=3.517; 95% CI=2.697 to 4.331) points than those without VI in the 7-year follow-up. Significant relationships were also found between VI and depression in the three age groups in the sensitivity analysis.
Conclusion: VI was associated with an increase in depression scores over a 7-year period. Female respondents, low educational attainment and high alcohol intake significantly predicted an increase in depressive status.
Keywords: depression & mood disorders; glaucoma; ophthalmology.
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