Demographic characteristics, living arrangements, recent falls, and service use by study participants in visually impaired and control groups and the total sample
| Characteristic | Visually impaired (n = 156) | Control (n = 158) | Total (n = 314) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean age, years (SD)a | 81.0 (7.0) | 77.8 (6.7) | 79 (7.0) |
| Sex, n (%) | |||
| Male | 56 (35.9) | 61 (38.6) | 117 (37.3) |
| Female | 100 (64.1) | 97 (61.4) | 197 (62.7) |
| Mean MDMb score (SD) | 299 (198) | 301 (211) | 300 (205) |
| Living arrangements, n (%) | |||
| Own house | 137 (87.8) | 142 (89.9) | 279 (88.9) |
| ‘Sheltered’ accommodation | 19 (12.2) | 16 (10.2) | 35 (11.1) |
| Lives alone | 77 (49.4) | 70 (44.3) | 147 (46.8) |
| Lives with partner | 61 (39.1) | 72 (45.6) | 133 (42.4) |
| Lives with relative | 18 (11.5) | 16 (10.1) | 34 (10.8) |
| Reported any fall in past 6 months, n (%)a | 42 (26.9) | 14 (8.9) | 56 (17.8) |
| Number of GP contacts in the past 6 months, mean (SD) | 1.8 (1.6) | 1.7 (1.4) | 1.8 (1.5) |
| Reported any social service contact in the past 6 months, n (%)a | (46.2) | 17 (10.8) | 89 (28.3) |