Independent and joint associations of vision and hearing impairments with arthritis: Findings from a population-based study.

Aim: Sensory impairments (SIs), encompassing both vision impairment (VI) and hearing impairment (HI), frequently co-occur in middle-aged and older adults and are linked to various neurodegenerative conditions. This study aimed to explore both the independent and joint associations of VI and HI with the prevalence and incidence of arthritis in this population.

Methods: A total of 17 154 individuals were included in the cross-sectional analysis, with 6946 having 10-year longitudinal data available. We assessed the cross-sectional association of VI and HI with prevalent arthritis using logistic regression and analyzed the longitudinal association with incident arthritis events using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: VI and HI were both associated with a higher likelihood of prevalent arthritis (VI: odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-1.81; HI: OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.34-1.56). Compared with those with no SI, those with VI only (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.39-1.80), HI only (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.39-1.80), and dual sensory impairment (DSI) (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.80-2.29) had a higher risk of prevalent arthritis. Individuals with VI (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26) or HI (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.09-1.32) had increased risk of incident arthritis, with those having DSI at the highest risk (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.10-1.43).

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating vision and hearing screenings into routine health check-ups, as early identification of impairments could significantly enhance the effectiveness of arthritis prevention strategies. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; ••: ••-••.