A recent study from China found that adults with vision or hearing issues, or both, might face a higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke than those without these sensory problems.
The research suggests that taking care of these sensory issues and paying close attention to cardiovascular health could help lower the risks.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlighted the importance of screening for vision and hearing problems and using corrective aids like glasses or hearing aids.
It emphasized that focusing on heart health for people with these conditions could be vital in preventing heart attacks or strokes.
The findings are also relevant to the United States, where heart disease is the leading cause of death and stroke is the fifth. As the population ages, sensory problems such as hearing loss and vision impairment are becoming more common.
Data from the CDC shows that about 13% of the population has trouble with vision, and around 15% of adults report difficulties hearing, even when using a hearing aid.
As people age, these numbers increase. More than 25% of people aged 71 or older experience vision problems, and more than half of those aged 75 or older have severe hearing loss.
In this new study, researchers looked at survey data from over 11,000 people in China aged 45 and older, who had no history of heart-related issues at the start of the study.
In 2011, participants provided information about their vision and hearing abilities. Seven years later, over 2,100 of them reported experiencing a stroke or other serious cardiovascular problems like heart attacks or severe chest pains.
The study found that participants with only vision issues were 24% more likely to develop cardiovascular problems compared to those without any sensory issues.
Those with just hearing loss faced a 20% increased risk. However, for those experiencing both vision and hearing problems, the risk was even higher at 35%.
This connection between sensory problems and cardiovascular health is not entirely new, but this study is unique because it compared all three scenarios: vision loss, hearing loss, and a combination of both.
It also focused specifically on cardiovascular disease, while other research often looks at how sensory problems affect quality of life, cognitive health, and overall mortality.
Dr. Xiaowei Zheng, a senior researcher from Jiangnan University in China, emphasized that with an aging population, cases of hearing and vision loss are increasing.
By 2050, it is estimated that nearly 900 million people worldwide will have vision impairment, according to a report by The Lancet Global Health Commission. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that 2.5 billion people will have some form of hearing loss by the same year.
Researchers are not yet sure why these sensory problems raise cardiovascular risks. Some previous studies have suggested that adults with vision issues may find it hard to stay physically active, which increases the likelihood of high blood pressure and obesity—two major risk factors for heart disease.
For hearing loss, the impact might be more indirect. It can reduce communication skills and mental sharpness, leading to conditions like depression and anxiety. This, in turn, may reduce physical and social activities, which are essential for heart health.
Dr. Rebecca Boxer, who leads the geriatrics division at UC Davis Health, highlighted that most research has so far focused on how hearing loss relates to cognitive problems and dementia.
She appreciated this new study’s attention to the broader health impact of sensory problems but also noted its limitations. For instance, the research shows a connection between sensory problems and heart issues, but it doesn’t prove that one causes the other.
Boxer pointed out that more research is needed to understand whether a lack of physical activity is the key factor or if other issues, like not taking medications regularly, are involved.
Self-reported data, as used in this study, has its weaknesses, too. People often underreport or do not recognize their hearing problems until they take a formal hearing test, making the results less precise.
Boxer emphasized the importance of better understanding how vision and hearing issues impact cardiovascular health. She believes more thorough research is needed to find out whether addressing sensory problems can reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
This could lead to better health care approaches for an aging population facing multiple sensory challenges.
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The research findings can be found in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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