Work

Demographic and geographic variations in US blindness and low vision mortality, 1999–2020

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Visual impairment and blindness are major public health concerns, with prior studies suggesting an elevated mortality risk among individuals with vision loss; however, national trends and sociodemographic disparities in related mortality in the United States remain poorly characterized, and this study examined long-term demographic and geographic patterns. Methods: We conducted a population-based analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) Multiple Cause of Death database from 1999 to 2020. Deaths listing blindness or low vision as an underlying or contributing cause were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code H54. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 100 000 population were calculated using the 2000 US standard population. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression, and mortality patterns were examined by age, sex, race and ethnicity, region, and urban–rural status. Results: A total of 18 474 blindness- and low-vision-related deaths were identified, with a mean AAMR of 0.25 per 100 000 population. Mortality increased markedly with age, with the highest rates observed among adults aged ≥85 years. AAMRs declined significantly from 1999 to 2011, then plateaued through 2020. Higher mortality rates were observed among men, non-Hispanic Black individuals, residents of nonmetropolitan areas, and populations in selected Midwestern and Southern regions. Conclusion: Blindness- and low-vision-related mortality in the United States exhibit strong age dependence and persistent demographic and geographic disparities. The recent stagnation in the decline in mortality highlights the need for targeted, equity-focused public health interventions to reduce preventable vision-related mortality.

Source: Annals of Medicine and Surgery

DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000005757