Objectives: Sleep duration and body mass index are lifestyle factors associated with chronic disease risk, but their independent and interactive effects among adults with visual impairment are unclear. This study examined the separate and combined associations of sleep duration and body mass index with chronic disease prevalence in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 300 visually impaired adults recruited from welfare centers and schools for the blind in Korea. Data were collected through structured telephone interviews. Sleep duration was self-reported, and body mass index was classified as normal (< 23.0kg/m² ), overweight (23.0–24.9kg/m² ), or obese (≥ 25.0kg/m² ). Multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, economic activity, alcohol use, and smoking. Results: Short sleep duration was associated with higher odds of diabetes (OR=2.29), hypertension (OR=1.90), and kidney disease (OR=2.34). Obesity was associated with hypertension (OR=2.10) but not with diabetes or kidney disease. A significant interaction between sleep duration and body mass index was observed for diabetes (OR=0.94), indicating that the association differed by body mass index. Conclusion: Short sleep duration was associated with higher chronic disease risk among visually impaired adults. Body mass index modified the association between sleep duration and diabetes, suggesting that sleep management should be incorporated into chronic disease prevention for this population.
Kim et al. (2026) studied this question.