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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Reduce vision loss from cataract — V‑06 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

Baseline: 141.2 per 1,000 adults aged 65 years and over had visual impairment due to cataract in 2017

Target: 126.5 per 1,000

Numerator
Number of adults aged 65 years and over with cataracts who have lost vision because of cataracts.
Denominator
Number of adults aged 65 years and over.
Target-setting method
Minimal statistical significance
Target-setting method details
Minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline.
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective, but it was not possible to project a target because the trend was moving away from the desired direction. The standard error was used to calculate a target based on minimal statistical significance, assuming the same standard error for the target as for the baseline. This method was used because it was a statistically significant improvement from the baseline. Cataract surgery, an effective intervention, and program efforts aimed at educating patients, caregivers, and providers to increase cataract surgery when indicated may assist in meeting this target.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2017 National Health Interview Survey Vision Supplement:

Numerator and Denominator:
Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you had cataract?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know

If answered "yes" (1) then asked:

Have you lost any vision because of cataract?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't know

Methodology notes

Persons who responded "yes" to the two Numerator questions met the (self-reporting) criteria for this objective.

Age-adjustment notes

This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: 65-74, 75+
  • Sex: 65-74, 75+
  • Race/Ethnicity: 65-74, 75+
  • Educational Attainment: 65-74, 75+
  • Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 65-74, 75+
  • Family Type: 65-74, 75+
  • Country of Birth: 65-74, 75+
  • Disability Status: 65-74, 75+
  • Geographic Location: 65-74, 75+
  • Marital Status: 65-74, 75+

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Retained, which includes core objectives that are continuing from Healthy People 2020 with no change in measurement.