ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the association between lung function and various types of sensory impairments (specifically visual and hearing impairments) in the elderly population in the middle-aged and older adults in China. This study utilizes data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from the 2011 and 2015 waves of interviews. Participants aged 45 and older with complete data were included in the study. Lung function was assessed using peak expiratory flow (PEF). Multivariable logistic regression and trend regression models analyzed the cross-sectional relationships between PEF, predicted PEF values, and various sensory impairments (SI) The study also examined the prospective relationship between baseline PEF and sensory impairment deterioration using restricted cubic splines for visualization. Finally, subgroup analyses were performed to validate the results' stability. The cross-sectional analysis, after adjusting for confounders, revealed that higher baseline and predicted PEF values were associated with a lower prevalence of SI. This inverse relationship was consistent across various types of impairments, including visual impairment, distance vision impairment, near vision impairment, and hearing impairment. The trend ORs were as follows: (Baseline PEF: 0.894 [0.846, 0.945], 0.881 [0.839, 0.926], 0.922 [0.878, 0.969], and 0.916 [0.873, 0.961]; Predicted PEF %: 0.829 [0.786, 0.874], 0.755 [0.719, 0.791], 0.872 [0.831, 0.914], and 0.770 [0.735, 0.806]). In the combined analysis of sensory impairment types, including single sensory impairment (SSI) and dual sensory impairment (DSI), higher PEF values were also linked to lower prevalence rates. The trend ORs for baseline PEF were 0.924 [0.862, 0.990] and 0.884 [0.826, 0.945], and for predicted PEF % values, the trend ORs were 0.915[0.853, 0.981] and 0.775 [0.725, 0.829]. During follow-up, baseline PEF was significantly associated with the deterioration of Non-SI to DSI. Specifically, the adjusted OR for Q4 relative to Q1 was 0.609 [0.397, 0.933], with a trend OR of 0.862 [0.751, 0.988]. Changes in PEF and predicted PEF percentage values during follow-up were not significantly associated with worsening SI. Subgroup analyses indicated that the inverse relationship between PEF and sensory impairments was significant across various age groups, genders, smoking statuses, and lung disease backgrounds, though the correlation was weaker in non-smokers and individuals with lung diseases. Higher PEF values are associated with a lower prevalence of various sensory impairments and a reduced risk of worsening these impairments in middle-aged and older adults. This study supports the effective screening of SI, particularly in identifying high-risk individuals who may experience the progression of DSI.
