What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the economic impact of medical care expenditures, informal caregiving, and health utility loss associated with visual impairment and blindness among US adults aged 40 years and older.

April 1, 2007Archives of Ophthalmology

Economic Impact of Visual Impairment and Blindness in the United States

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Authors

KFKevin D. FrickJohns Hopkins University

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Implication

Population-based survey analysis reveals visual impairment costs billions and reduces quality-adjusted life years in US adults, highlighting substantial burden on medical and home care systems.

Key Points

To assess the economic impact of medical care expenditures, informal caregiving, and health utility loss associated with visual impairment and blindness among US adults aged 40 years and older.
Pooled Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data from 1996 to 2002 for adults aged 40 and older.
Conducted multivariable regression analyses controlling for demographics and comorbidities while accounting for complex survey sampling design.
Projected individual excess expenditures, informal care days, and health utility deficits to the national population.
Visual impairment and blindness were significantly associated with higher total medical expenditures, increased days of informal care, and reduced health utility.
Home care expenditures represented the single medical spending component most substantially impacted by blindness.
Aggregate annual national impact totaled $5.5 billion in medical and informal care costs, alongside a loss of more than 209,000 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

Cite This Study

Kevin D. Frick (2007) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a6fa9fc2163a0a01bc3f041 https://doi.org/10.1001/archopht.125.4.544

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Implication

Population-based survey analysis reveals visual impairment costs billions and reduces quality-adjusted life years in US adults, highlighting substantial burden on medical and home care systems.

Economic Impact of Visual Impairment and Blindness in the United States

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Economic Impact of Visual Impairment and Blindness in the United States

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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