Baseline characteristics
| Full sample | No self-reported VI | Self-reported VI | P value | |
| N=15 808 | N=12 164 | N=3644 | ||
| Demographic characteristics | ||||
| Age at surgery, mean (SD), years | 59.2 (9.7) | 58.1 (9.3) | 62.8 (10.1) | <0.001 |
| Sex: male, n (%) | 7547 (47.7%) | 6124 (50.3%) | 1423 (39.1%) | <0.001 |
| Marriage status: married or partnered, n (%) | 13 761 (87.1%) | 10 792 (88.7%) | 2969 (81.5%) | <0.001 |
| Official residential status: rural, n (%) | 12 222 (77.3%) | 9176 (75.5%) | 3046 (83.6%) | <0.001 |
| Education: high school and above, n (%) | 1990 (12.6%) | 1762 (14.5%) | 228 (6.3%) | <0.001 |
| Area of residence, n (%) | ||||
| 1. Eastern China | 5000 (31.6%) | 4006 (32.9%) | 994 (27.3%) | <0.001 |
| 2. Middle | 4484 (28.4%) | 3349 (27.5%) | 1135 (31.1%) | |
| 3. Western China | 5155 (32.6%) | 3861 (31.7%) | 1294 (35.5%) | |
| Health status | ||||
| Body mass index, mean (SD), years | 23.5 (4.0) | 23.6 (4.0) | 23.1 (3.9) | <0.001 |
| Ever had hypertension, n (%) | 6296 (40.0%) | 4635 (38.3%) | 1661 (45.8%) | <0.001 |
| Number of comorbidities, mean (SD) | 1.2 (1.2) | 1.1 (1.1) | 1.6 (1.3) | <0.001 |
| Health-related lifestyle | ||||
| Heavy consumption of alcohol, n (%) | 1308 (8.3%) | 1048 (8.6%) | 260 (7.1%) | 0.004 |
| Current smoker, n (%) | 6252 (39.6%) | 4944 (40.7%) | 1308 (35.9%) | <0.001 |
| Direct pathways | ||||
| Frailty, n (%) | ||||
| 1. Not frail | 4450 (36.6%) | 3817 (40.5%) | 633 (23.2%) | <0.001 |
| 2. At risk for frailty | 7262 (59.8%) | 5355 (56.8%) | 1907 (69.9%) | |
| 3. Frail | 441 (3.6%) | 252 (2.7%) | 189 (6.9%) | |
| Disability, n (%) | ||||
| 1. Activities of daily living (ADLs) disability | 860 (5.4%) | 456 (3.7%) | 404 (11.1%) | <0.001 |
| 2. Instrumental ADLs disability | 2019 (12.8%) | 1104 (9.1%) | 915 (25.1%) | <0.001 |
| Indirect pathways | ||||
| Injuries | ||||
| Have fallen in the last 2 years, n (%) | 2508 (15.9%) | 1650 (13.6%) | 858 (23.7%) | <0.001 |
| Healthcare utilisation | ||||
| Not seeking medical care in last month, n (%) | 1121 (7.1%) | 753 (6.2%) | 368 (10.1%) | <0.001 |
| Undergoing physical examination in the last year, n (%) | 7225 (45.8%) | 5580 (46.0%) | 1645 (45.3%) | 0.416 |
| Wearing glasses, n (%) | 1821 (11.5%) | 1361 (11.2%) | 460 (12.6%) | 0.017 |
| Had cataract surgery, n (%) | 295 (1.9%) | 150 (1.2%) | 145 (4.1%) | <0.001 |
| Social engagement and mental well-being | ||||
| Social isolation, n (%) | ||||
| 1. Not isolated | 5925 (38.5%) | 4862 (40.9%) | 1063 (30.1%) | <0.001 |
| 2. Moderate isolation | 7810 (50.7%) | 5936 (50.0%) | 1874 (53.1%) | |
| 3. Severe isolation | 1669 (10.8%) | 1077 (9.1%) | 592 (16.8%) | |
| Depression present | 5789 (37.1%) | 3765 (31.3%) | 2024 (56.6%) | <0.001 |
Source: CHARLS 2011 Baseline.
VI, visual impairment.