Association between dual sensory impairments and new-onset cardiovascular disease among American middle-aged and older adults: the mediating role of depression

Objective This study aimed to explore the association between dual sensory impairment (DSI) and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and to evaluate the potential mediating role of depression in this relationship. Methods The data were sourced from 2017/2018 (Wave 14) to 2021/2022 (Wave 16) of the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study (HRS) of the American aged 50 and above. A counterfactual-based causal mediation framework was employed to evaluate the mediating role of continuous depression scores in the association between DSI and new-onset CVD. Results A total of 7582 participants were included, the incidence density of CVD is 23.67/1000 person-years. Compared with the people without VI (vision impairment) and HI (hearing impairment), those with DSI were associated with a significantly higher risk of CVD ( HR : 1.52, 95% CI : 1.25, 1.85). Specifically, DSI was associated with a higher risk of cardiac events ( HR : 1.41, 95% CI : 1.14, 1.75) and stroke ( HR : 2.25, 95% CI : 1.50, 3.36). Notably, depression mediated 25.33% of the association between DSI and new-onset CVD. Mediation effects for cardiac events and stroke were 27.04% and 17.39%, respectively. Conclusion DSI was associated with a higher risk of CVD among middle-aged and older adults. The association was partially mediated by depression.