Fear of falling in age-related macular degeneration

BMC Ophthalmology

Table 2 Age-adjusted effect of vision, demographic, and health variables on fear of falling score (n = 125)

Variable	Interval	∆ fear of falling score logit units (95% CI)*	Age-adjusted p value
Vision
Age-related macular degeneration	Present	-0.68 (-1.5 to 0.18)	0.12
Better-eye visual acuity	1 line worse†	-0.20 (-0.33 to -0.06)	0.01
Binocular log contrast sensitivity	0.1 log unit worse	-0.25 (-0.37 to -0.13)	<0.001
Cataract/PCO, either eye	Present, either eye	-0.47 (-1.3 to 0.40)	0.29
Demographics
Age	5 years older	-0.08 (-0.15 to -0.01)	0.02
African-American race	vs. white	0.45 (-0.87 to 1.8)	0.50
Female	vs. male	-1.0 (-1.8 to -0.26)	0.01
Education	4 years more	0.49 (-0.17 to 1.1)	0.14
Employed	vs. unemployed	0.99 (0.07 to 1.9)	0.04
Lives alone	vs. lives with others	0.14 (-0.83 to 1.1)	1.00
Health
Body mass index	1 kg/m² higher	-0.08 (-0.14 to -0.02)	0.01
Grip strength	1 kg less force	-0.08 (-0.11 to -0.04)	<0.001
Comorbid illnesses	1 more illness	-0.38 (-0.62 to -0.14)	0.002
Depressive symptoms	Present	-3.2 (-4.9 to -1.4)	<0.001
MMSE-VI score	5 points lower	0.22 (-1.0 to 1.5)	0.72

PCO = Posterior Capsular Opacification, MMSE-VI = Mini-mental status examination for the visually impaired.
*Scores are derived from the Rasch analytic model. Higher scores indicate greater ability, or less fear of falling, so factors associated with a negative change in score are associated with greater fear of falling.
†Corresponds to 0.1 unit change in the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution.

ISSN: 1471-2415