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Background <p>Few studies have examined sensory impairment (visual and auditory) as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in older people living in nursing homes. This study analysed the combined effect of visual and auditory impairment (dual sensory loss) on the risk of cognitive impairment in a sample of older people living in nursing homes in the urban area of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), considering the severity of the sensory impairment, sex and age group. The interaction between visual and hearing impairment was also explored.</p> Methods <p>A total of 338 residents aged 65–97 years participated in the study. Dual sensory loss (DSL), defined as concurrent visual and hearing impairment, was identified through clinical testing (assessment of visual acuity and pure-tone audiometry). Categories of visual impairment, hearing loss and DSL were established based on visual acuity scores and audiometric thresholds. The validated Spanish adaptation of the original Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to screen for cognitive impairment. A score of &lt; 24 points was considered indicative of possible cognitive impairment. Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) of cognitive impairment according to sensory status and to assess interaction on the multiplicative scale. Additive interaction was evaluated by calculating the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).</p> Results <p>DSL was significantly associated with the risk of cognitive impairment (RR: 2.340, 95% CI: 1.412–3.880), whereas single sensory impairment was not (RR: 1.407, 95% CI: 0.826–2.397). Significant differences were found in the estimated RRs of cognitive impairment between DSL categories (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Higher RRs of cognitive impairment were observed in men than in women and in residents aged &lt; 80 years. A possible interaction was observed between visual and hearing impairment.</p> Conclusions <p>Dual sensory loss is associated with an increased estimated risk of cognitive impairment in the institutionalised elderly population. This risk appears to increase with the severity of the DSL and in men. However, it appears to decrease with age. These results highlight the need to screen, prevent and treat dual sensory loss in the elderly population living in residential care facilities.</p>

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Severity of dual sensory loss and cognitive impairment in institutionalized older adults: a cross-sectional study in Galicia

  • 期刊论文

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月17日

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  • Covadonga Vázquez-Sánchez,
  • Luz María Gigirey Prieto,
  • Carlos Pío del Oro-Sáez

摘要

Background

Few studies have examined sensory impairment (visual and auditory) as a risk factor for cognitive impairment in older people living in nursing homes. This study analysed the combined effect of visual and auditory impairment (dual sensory loss) on the risk of cognitive impairment in a sample of older people living in nursing homes in the urban area of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), considering the severity of the sensory impairment, sex and age group. The interaction between visual and hearing impairment was also explored.

Methods

A total of 338 residents aged 65–97 years participated in the study. Dual sensory loss (DSL), defined as concurrent visual and hearing impairment, was identified through clinical testing (assessment of visual acuity and pure-tone audiometry). Categories of visual impairment, hearing loss and DSL were established based on visual acuity scores and audiometric thresholds. The validated Spanish adaptation of the original Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to screen for cognitive impairment. A score of < 24 points was considered indicative of possible cognitive impairment. Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) of cognitive impairment according to sensory status and to assess interaction on the multiplicative scale. Additive interaction was evaluated by calculating the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).

Results

DSL was significantly associated with the risk of cognitive impairment (RR: 2.340, 95% CI: 1.412–3.880), whereas single sensory impairment was not (RR: 1.407, 95% CI: 0.826–2.397). Significant differences were found in the estimated RRs of cognitive impairment between DSL categories (p < 0.001). Higher RRs of cognitive impairment were observed in men than in women and in residents aged < 80 years. A possible interaction was observed between visual and hearing impairment.

Conclusions

Dual sensory loss is associated with an increased estimated risk of cognitive impairment in the institutionalised elderly population. This risk appears to increase with the severity of the DSL and in men. However, it appears to decrease with age. These results highlight the need to screen, prevent and treat dual sensory loss in the elderly population living in residential care facilities.