Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes severe central vision loss in adults >55 without direct ocular pain, but impairs autonomy and quality of life. In long-term care, AMD disproportionately burdens women due to longevity, biological/hormonal, and sociocultural factors, worsening access to care/rehabilitation and amplified multimorbidity (musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and frailty), falls, dependence, isolation, and caregiver load—all driving secondary chronic pain (physical from immobility/falls; psychosocial/emotional from autonomy loss). Objective: We examined gender patterns in perceived health and functional domains among 314 institutionalized AMD residents (EDAD 2023, INE, Spain), highlighting non-visual limitations as key drivers of secondary pain, with greater female impact. Methods: Secondary analysis of sociodemographics and functional subscales was conducted (high reliability, Cronbach’s α >0.88). Bivariate Pearson correlations (p<0.01) linked difficulties (with/without assistance) to ordinal perceived health. Results: Women predominated (79.3%, n=249), and were older (88.56 ± 8.14 vs. 85.51 ± 13.39 years), with higher severe disability and poorer health perceptions. Strongest correlations were found with negative health: mobility (assisted while walking outside r=0.336*), self-care (assisted eating r=0.376*), and communication/learning (assisted understanding r=0.406*). Visual items were weaker (reading r=0.228*), mitigated by aids, indicating that pain from functional/multimorbid consequences disproportionately affects women. Conclusions: Institutionalized women with AMD face amplified vulnerabilities, poorer health, and higher secondary chronic pain risk from mobility/self-care deficits and multimorbidity. Prioritizing gender-sensitive holistic pain assessment, non-visual interventions, equitable rehabilitation, caregiver VR empathy training, and psychosocial support can reduce the burden in this female-majority group. Future gender-stratified models for personalized care are needed.
Previous Article in event
Previous Article in session
Next Article in event
Next Article in session
Gender disparities in perceived health and functional limitations among institutionalized older adults with Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Implications for secondary chronic pain and multimorbidity
Published:
25 May 2026
by MDPI
in The 1st International Online Conference on Social Sciences
session Society and Technology
Abstract:
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration; gender differences; institutionalized older adults; perceived health; functional disability; secondary chronic pain; multimorbidity; gender-sensitive care
