Cognitive Level Enhancement Through Vision Exams and Refraction
- Conditions
- Refractive Errors
- Interventions
- Device: Free near and Distance Vision glasses
- Registration Number
- NCT05458323
- Lead Sponsor
- Queen's University, Belfast
- Brief Summary
The investigators aim to conduct a mixed-method study in which a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and a descriptive qualitative study will be conducted. The RCT aims to determine whether free near and distance glasses provided to residents in Hyderabad, India, aged ≥ 60 years, with under- or un- corrected refractive error and normal baseline hearing and cognition (HMSE \> 18), can improve quality of life, reduce falls, reduce depression, improve social interaction and physical activity cost-effectively over 36 months. The primary qualitative research aim is to a) contextualize the RCT with information on the milieu and culture in which the trial will be conducted; b) provide data on the lived experiences of older adults with reduced vision in the study area, and c) conduct a process evaluation of the trial.
The primary outcome measure is the three-year change in cognition measured by LASI- DAD (Longitudinal Aging Study in India(LASI)- Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia(DAD) global cognitive score.
Secondary Outcome Measures: Three year change in Quality of Life score measured by WHO QOL-BREF; Visual functioning from the RASCH-scaled version of INDVFQ(Indian Visual Functioning(INDVFQ);self-reported physical activity score measured using IPAQ questionnaire; PHQ9 score; domain specific cognitive score (orientation, executive function, language/fluency, memory) measured by HMSE; Total cost of care including direct and indirect costs; Quality adjusted life years; Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio; Number of falls measured by Quick Screen score over the three years; Social network density at 3 years (SNI 1-3 represents a "limited" social network, 4-5 is a "medium" social network, and SNI ≥6 is a "diverse" social network) measured by the SNI score; An additional secondary outcome will be LASI-DAD global cognitive score analysed by excluding any tests determined pre-hoc to depend on visual acuity.
- Detailed Description
The number of people living with dementia globally will rise from 50 million in 2017 to 131.5 million by 2050. The majority reside in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where a 223% increase in the burden of dementia is expected from 2015 to 2050. The household cost of caring for demented relatives in India was £2.48 billion in 2013, where total expenses for dementia care will soon consume 0.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite the rapidly-growing burden of dementia in India, only 1 in 10 affected are diagnosed or treated. Proven preventive strategies are desperately needed to close the gap, and could reduce incidence by an estimated 41%, especially early, at the stage of mild cognitive impairment, which itself increases risk of dementia by 23-fold. Existing interventions have predominantly been evaluated in high-income countries (HIC), despite the acknowledged need for prevention in low resource settings. India's national dementia strategy, documented in the Alzheimer's and Related Society of India (ARDSI) Report (2018) and Dementia in India (2020), echo the WHO Dementia Global Action Plan (2017) in prioritising evidence-based approaches to reduce risk.
The elderly, at greatest risk for cognitive disorders, also have the highest prevalence of vision impairment, which affects 2.2 billion persons globally. Growing longitudinal evidence links vision impairment and risk of cognitive decline, with population studies in the United States reporting a 55% increased 9-year risk of new cognitive impairment among visually impaired persons. Longitudinal studies elsewhere in the United States, France, Singapore and China report similar results. While vision impairment is a strong predictor of future cognitive performance, cognition is relatively weakly linked to future visual decline. Both distance impairment and impairment of near vision, a nearly universal part of aging without refractive correction, have been implicated. Observational studies also suggest vision care slows rates of cognitive decline by up to 50%. The association between vision loss and cognitive decline and dementia, while consistent and strong, is not well understood, and various causal pathways have been posited. These include common neurodegenerative or micro vascular aetiology, increased cognitive load, and limited social contact and physical activity due to poor vision, each independently shown to elevate risk of dementia. Studies investigating the role of vision correction in slowing cognitive decline will have a significant impact in developing strategies to reduce the burden of dementia.
Design: single centre, open label, two-arm, parallel group, stratified, interventional randomised trial with a qualitative component Rationale: Despite considerable longitudinal observational evidence, there have been no randomised trials to investigate whether providing near and distance glasses can slow cognitive decline in the elderly. Proof of a causative association between vision correction and the slowing of cognitive decline is needed to potentiate investment in inexpensive vision care for prevention. This requires randomised trials, and none have yet been done.
Study Plan:
Eligibility assessments conducted for 5000-10000 participants. After providing the consent and meeting the eligibility criteria, 760 participants randomised to intervention and control groups.
Annual follow-ups for 3 years for both groups. Lost to follow ups documented with reason for both groups. Missed data for both groups will be analysed as intention to treat (ITT) analysis.
Statistical methods: The primary analysis will use a significance level of \<0.05 and will compare the change in LASI-DAD global cognitive score (primary outcome) from baseline to 36 months between groups using a 2-sample t-test. A secondary analysis involving a linear regression model will be done to estimate the overall three-year change in LASI-DAD global cognitive score from baseline adjusting for potential determinants of change in cognitive status, such as baseline cognitive score, age, sex, education, quality of life, depression, social interaction, and physical activity. Further covariates will be detailed in the SAP. Similar methods will be used for other time-points and secondary outcomes that are continuous data such as INDVFQ, IPAQ, PHQ9 and HMSE scores. Number of falls will be analysed using a two-sample t-test. SNI (categorical data) will be analysed using Chi-square test.
Justification for sample size: Imputing three-year un-intervened decline in the outcome variable (LASI-DAD global score from cross-sectional, age-stratified data17, at 29% effect size (from the ACHIEVE study), 502 participants give 90% power at p = 0.05 (two-tailed) based on a two-sample test. With annual follow-up loss of 13% based on estimation from previous studies done in India and WHO annual mortality rates in the elderly Indian population(ranging between 10.1 % and 12.7 %). Therefore, 760 total participants are needed across the two study groups. With 60% prevalence of uncorrected distance and/or near refractive error, the total number of people needing to be screened is estimated at approximately 1300. However, based on available and other local factors as evident from pre-pilot work, 5000-10000 participants may have to be screened for recruiting 760 participants for the trial.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 760
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Free near and distance glasses Free near and Distance Vision glasses All participants randomised to the intervention group will be provided with free near and/or distance spectacles based on the results of refraction. Glasses will be provided at the time of enrolment into the study. The participants will be asked to choose from an assortment of 20 frames. Participants will be asked to report to the study team member in case of any issue with spectacles or if spectacles are lost or broken. Replacement glasses will be provided in case of broken or lost spectacles whenever required. Participants will undergo annual eye exams and refraction, and change of glasses will be prescribed as needed.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in cognitive score Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: LASI-DAD global cognitive score. The best possible score is 360 and the worst possible score is 0.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Cost effectiveness Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Cost-effectiveness using Client Service Receipt Inventory
Self-reported physical activity. Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: International Physical Activity Questionnaire Self-reported physical activity: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
Falls Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Quick Screen for falls Risk. The worst possible score is 7% and the best possible score is 49%
26-Item Quality of Life Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Quality of Life using WHO BREF questionnaire. Higher scores (for 4 domains) indicate higher quality of life and vice versa (it is a continuum)
Social interaction/isolation Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Social Networking Index. The best possible score is 12 and the worst possible score is 0
Glasses compliance Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Use of glasses during follow-up visits. The best possible score is 1 and the worst possible score is 0
Visual Function Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Indian VFQ. The measure will be in logits (using Rasch-scaled interval scores) and it is a continuum with positive person scores indicating lower visual functioning and negative scores indicating better visual functioning.
Domain-specific cognitive function Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Hindi Mental State Examination. The best possible score is 31 and the worst possible score is 0.
Depression Time point(s) of primary interest: 36 months collected every 12 months - ie at 12, 24 and 36 months The metric or method of measurement to be used: Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ9. Worst score is 0 and best possible score is 27
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
L V Prasad Eye Institute
🇮🇳Hyderabad, Telangana, India