The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Vision Loss From Cataracts and Cataract Surgery Utilization in the United States—A National Health Interview Survey Analysis

To investigate the association of social determinants of health (SDOH) factors and cataract-related outcomes disparities.Cross-sectional, with a nationally representative sample.We used publicly available data from the 2008, 2016, and 2017 National Health Interview Survey data sets. Outcome measures included self-reported prevalence for ever been diagnosed with cataract, vision loss secondary to cataracts, and the likelihood of undergoing cataract surgery. Survey-weighted, multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, and other relevant covariates, were used to examine the association between SDOH factors and cataract-related outcomes.A total of 81,551 participants were included, who were predominantly between 18 and 44 years of age (49.6%), female (51.7%), and White (74.8%). Multivariable regression models with age as a covariate showed that individuals who were not working were more likely to report having cataracts than those who were working (P < .001). Those who needed but could not afford medical care in the past year were more likely to report vision loss secondary to cataracts than their counterparts (P < .001). Uninsured participants were less likely to report undergoing cataract surgery than those with private insurance (P = .03). Individuals with higher income (poverty-income ratio: 1.00-2.99 vs <1.00) were more likely to report undergoing cataract surgery (P = .04).Several SDOH factors were associated with disparities in rates of cataract-related outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of ophthalmologists screening for social risks in patients with cataract, as these social factors are important barriers for access to care.