Survey of Sensory Impairment Indicators Among Adults Aged 65 Years and Older in Xinxing County

A Cross-Sectional Survey of Global Priority Sensory Impairment Indicators Among People Aged 65 Years and Older in Xinxing County

This cross-sectional population-based survey will be conducted among residents aged 65 years and older in Xinxing County, Yunfu, Guangdong Province, China. The study will use standardized eye examinations, visual acuity and refractive assessment, anterior segment examination, hearing screening and questionnaires to estimate effective refractive error coverage, effective cataract surgical coverage, effective hearing technology coverage, common eye disease status, and dual sensory impairment among older adults. The findings are intended to provide evidence for primary-level eye and hearing health services.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Refractive Error; Cataract; Hearing Loss; Visual Impairment; Dual Sensory Impairment

Detailed Description

The study addresses visual impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory impairment among older adults in a county-level population. Participants will be recruited from older adults aged 65 years and above covered by the national basic public health service system in Xinxing County. A probability proportional to size cluster sampling method will be used, with village or residential committees as the sampling frame. Study procedures include distance and near visual acuity testing, assessment with habitual correction where applicable, pinhole testing when visual acuity is worse than 6/12, corresponding to decimal visual acuity less than 0.5, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment, bilateral ear examination, hearing screening using the WHOears app, and relevant questionnaires. Data will be entered and managed electronically and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 2854

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Xiaotong Han; Phone Number: 086-15999975559; Email: hanxiaotong@gzzoc.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Guangdong
    • Yunfu, Guangdong, China
      • Xinxing County

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Community-dwelling residents aged 65 years and older in Xincheng Town, Xinxing County, Yunfu, Guangdong Province, China, covered by the national basic public health service system.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 65 years or older.
2. Voluntarily participates in the study and provides signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Unable to cooperate with study-related examinations, including because of disability, communication barriers, or other reasons.
2. Has severe systemic disease that may affect study examinations or make participation potentially hazardous to health.
3. Considered by the investigator to be unsuitable for participation in the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Adults aged 65 years and older in Xinxing County; Residents aged 65 years and older who meet eligibility criteria and provide written informed consent will undergo standardized visual, ocular, hearing, and questionnaire assessments during the cross-sectional survey.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effective Refractive Error Coverage	Effective refractive error coverage among the surveyed population, calculated at the person level as the proportion of participants with met refractive correction need among all participants with met, under-met, or unmet refractive correction need. The primary threshold will be worse than 6/12 in the better eye, corresponding to decimal visual acuity less than 0.5, with improvement to 6/12 or better through habitual correction, pinhole, or refraction used to classify met, under-met, and unmet need.	At the cross-sectional survey visit during the 2026-06 to 2026-12 data collection period.
Effective Cataract Surgical Coverage	Effective cataract surgical coverage among the surveyed population, calculated at the person level as the proportion of participants with operated cataract and a good visual outcome among all participants with operated or operable cataract. Good visual outcome is defined as presenting visual acuity of 6/12 or better; the final operable cataract threshold should be confirmed before release.	At the cross-sectional survey visit during the 2026-06 to 2026-12 data collection period.
Effective Hearing Technology Coverage	Effective hearing technology coverage among the surveyed population, calculated as the proportion of participants with moderate or greater hearing loss who regularly use hearing technology and report perceived benefit from its use. Hearing loss classification will be based on WHOears app screening and study questionnaire data.	At the cross-sectional survey visit during the 2026-06 to 2026-12 data collection period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Prevalence and Correction Status of Common Eye Diseases	Prevalence and correction or treatment status of common eye diseases, including refractive error and cataract, based on standardized eye examinations and questionnaire data.	At the cross-sectional survey visit during the 2026-06 to 2026-12 data collection period.
Prevalence of Dual Sensory Impairment	Prevalence of dual sensory impairment, defined as the proportion of participants who meet both the study visual impairment criterion and the study hearing impairment criterion. The visual impairment criterion will use worse than 6/12 in the better eye, corresponding to decimal visual acuity less than 0.5; the hearing impairment criterion will be based on WHOears app screening and study questionnaire data.	At the cross-sectional survey visit during the 2026-06 to 2026-12 data collection period.
Feasibility and Satisfaction of the SENSIIS System for Primary-Level Vision and Hearing Screening	Feasibility and satisfaction of the SENSIIS system for primary-level vision and hearing screening, assessed through questionnaires and interviews.	At or after the cross-sectional survey visit during the 2026-06 to 2026-12 data collection period.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lingyi Liang, MD, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): July 6, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 10, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Older adults; Cross-sectional study; Population-based survey; Effective refractive error coverage; Effective cataract surgical coverage; Effective hearing technology coverage; SENSIIS; WHOears; Xinxing County
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Eye Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Sensation Disorders; Lens Diseases; Ear Diseases; Hearing Disorders; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Cataract; Hearing Loss; Refractive Errors; Vision Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2026KYPJ069

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No