Prevalence and Regional Variations of Visual and Auditory Impairments Among Elderly Individuals in the Faroe Islands: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gro Gade Haanes,1,2 Jónvør Christiansen,3 Dag Hofoss2,4 1Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Institute for Nursing and Health Science, University of South-Eastern Norway, Horten, Norway; 2USN Research Group for Older People’s Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Drammen, Norway; 3Nánd, Health Services for the Elderly in Eysturkommuna and Fuglafjarðar Kommuna, Faroe Islands, Denmark; 4Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Department of Health, Social and Welfare Studies, University of South-Eastern Norway, Campus Drammen, Drammen, NorwayCorrespondence: Gro Gade Haanes, Email [email protected]: Aging is associated with the potential onset of vision and hearing problems, affecting the quality of life and functional independence of older adults. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of various vision and hearing problems in 76-year-old Faroese individuals and examine possible regional variations in these health issues.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, surveying 175 participants, all 76-year-olds, from different regions in the Faroe Islands. Data were collected on demographics, educational level, and marital status, as well as seven indicators of vision problems and eight indicators of hearing problems. Differences by gender and region were tested by Pearson chi squared test and Fisher’s exact test, Bonferroni corrected for multiple comparisons.Results: Problems with seeing and hearing were widespread, difficulty reading small print was reported by 58% of participants, and 51% reported less than “good” hearing. Despite the high prevalence of issues, no significant difference was found between genders in terms of problem frequency.Conclusion: This study underscores the high prevalence of vision and hearing issues among 76-year-old Faroese individuals, with no gender differences observed. The detected regional variations necessitate further investigation to better understand and address these health issues in older adults. Policymakers and health professionals should consider these findings in designing interventions to improve older adults’ sensory health.Keywords: aging, vision problems, hearing problems, prevalence, regional variations, Faroe Islands