Associations between hearing and vision impairment and type 2 diabetes among middle-aged and older chinese adults: a nationwide longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Sensory impairments, including visual impairment (VI), hearing impairment (HI), and dual sensory impairment (DSI), are more common in middle-aged and older adults and are associated with poor health outcomes. However, the effect of VI, HI, and DSI on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is unclear.

METHODS

This study was based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), which included a nationally representative sample of 13,484 middle-aged and older participants. HI and VI statuses were collected through self-reported questions. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to analyze the associations of VI, HI, and DSI with the risk of T2D.

RESULTS

During the 7-year follow-up period, 1267 participants developed new-onset T2D. Compared with normal hearing participants, individuals with HI had a higher risk of developing T2D (HR 1.19 [95% CI, 1.06-1.34]). Individuals with VI also had a higher risk of developing T2D than individuals with normal vision (HR 1.28 [95% CI, 1.11-1.49]). Individuals with DSI had a 42% increased risk of developing T2D compared with participants without sensory impairment (HR 1.42 [95% CI, 1.18-1.69]).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that HI and VI have a combined effect on the incidence of T2D. Early identification of vision and hearing impairment may help identify individuals at higher risk of T2D and inform risk stratification and targeted prevention efforts. Individuals with DSI or more severe sensory impairment may warrant priority in diabetes risk assessment and closer monitoring.