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Elucidating the burden of dual-sensory impairment in community-based older individuals in a multi-ethnic society
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  • Published: 02 April 2026

Elucidating the burden of dual-sensory impairment in community-based older individuals in a multi-ethnic society

  • Isabelle Nooteboom1,4,
  • Eva K. Fenwick1,2,
  • Ryan E. K. Man1,2,
  • Johnny C. M. Wong1,
  • Brian Yeo Sheng Yep5,
  • Esther Yanxin Gao5,6,7,
  • Benjamin Kye Jyn Tan5,6,7,
  • Hiromi Yee1,
  • Jia Hui Ng6,8,
  • Neville Wei Yang Teo6,8,
  • Ciaran Forde9,
  • Ecosse L. Lamoureux  ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8674-57051,2,3 &
  • …
  • Preeti Gupta1,2 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Diseases
  • Health care
  • Medical research
  • Risk factors

Abstract

We aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, patient-centered impact and health-related costs of three types of dual sensory impairment (DSI) in a multi-ethnic older Asian population. In this population-based, cross-sectional study (2017–2022) of 2048 Asian adults aged ≥ 60 years, vision, hearing and olfactory impairments (VI, HI and OI) were assessed using validated clinical tests. DSI types included: VI + HI, VI + OI, and HI + OI. Age-, sex-, and ethnicity-adjusted prevalence rates (2020 Singapore Census) were calculated. Regression analyses identified associated risk factors, impacts and healthcare costs. Of the 2048 participants (mean age ± standard deviation 75.7 ± 7; 49.5% female), prevalence rates of VI + OI, VI + HI, OI + HI were 1.0%, 7.3% and 21.7%, respectively. Older age (odds ratio[OR]1.22) and multimorbidity (OR3.74) were significantly associated with VI + HI, while older age (OR1.23), males (OR3.62), living alone (OR2.37) and current smoking (OR2.51) were associated with higher odds of OI + HI. VI + HI was associated with lower HRQoL-scores (β:− 0.026), while VI + HI (OR2.39) and OI + HI (OR2.10) were associated with lower IADL status. The OI + HI group showed a trend toward higher healthcare costs compared to those without. DSI, particularly OI + HI, is relatively prevalent in older Singaporean adults. Early identification and targeted screening of at-risk groups may mitigate adverse outcomes and healthcare cost, given the global ageing population.

Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. All requests will be considered in accordance with institutional and ethical guidelines.

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Funding

Prof. Lamoureux is supported by the Singapore National Medical Research Council Senior Clinician Scientist Award (CSA-NMRC-CSA-SI #JRNMRR197001 and NMRC-CSA-SI #JRNMRR140601). The grant body had no roles in design, conduct or data analysis of the study, nor in manuscript preparation and approval. The funding sources had no role in design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Level 6, Singapore, 169856, Singapore

    Isabelle Nooteboom, Eva K. Fenwick, Ryan E. K. Man, Johnny C. M. Wong, Hiromi Yee, Ecosse L. Lamoureux & Preeti Gupta

  2. Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore

    Eva K. Fenwick, Ryan E. K. Man, Ecosse L. Lamoureux & Preeti Gupta

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Ecosse L. Lamoureux

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Isabelle Nooteboom

  5. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Brian Yeo Sheng Yep, Esther Yanxin Gao & Benjamin Kye Jyn Tan

  6. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Esther Yanxin Gao, Benjamin Kye Jyn Tan, Jia Hui Ng & Neville Wei Yang Teo

  7. Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

    Esther Yanxin Gao & Benjamin Kye Jyn Tan

  8. Duke-NUS Medical School, Surgery Academic Clinical Program, Singapore, Singapore

    Jia Hui Ng & Neville Wei Yang Teo

  9. Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Ciaran Forde

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  1. Isabelle Nooteboom
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Contributions

Drs Gupta and Lamoureux had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Gupta, Nooteboom and Lamoureux. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Gupta, Nooteboom, Wong, Fenwick, Man, and Lamoureux. Drafting of manuscript: Gupta, Nooteboom, Fenwick, Man, and Lamoureux. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Gupta, Nooteboom, Fenwick, Man, Wong, Forde, Yeo, Gao, Tan, Yee, Ng, Teo and Lamoureux. Obtained funding: Lamoureux. Statistical analysis: Wong. Administrative, technical, or material support: Gupta. Study Supervision: Gupta, Lamoureux.

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Correspondence to Ecosse L. Lamoureux.

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Nooteboom, I., Fenwick, E.K., Man, R.E.K. et al. Elucidating the burden of dual-sensory impairment in community-based older individuals in a multi-ethnic society. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40484-9

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  • Received: 22 October 2025

  • Accepted: 13 February 2026

  • Published: 02 April 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40484-9

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Keywords

  • DSI
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk factors
  • Determinants
  • Patient centered impact
  • Health care costs
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