[Relationship of fundus oculi changes to declines in mental and physical health conditions among elderly living in a rural community].

The prevalence of fundus oculi changes among elderly persons living in a rural community was investigated and the relationship of those changes to the development of cerebrovascular diseases (C.V.D.), total mortality, declines in mental and physical functions was examined. The subjects consisted of 241 residents aged 70 to 75 years as of 1986, in a rural area of Yamagata prefecture, Japan. The baseline survey was carried out in 1986, and the follow-up survey was done in 1991. The results obtained were as follows: 1) The fundus oculi examination revealed that among changes observed, there were high prevalences of senile tigroid fundus, drusen, broadened light reflex, and crossing phenomenon. 2) Multivariate analysis by Hayashi's Quantification III showed that the findings of broadened light reflex, crossing phenomenon, blood pressure, and ECG were discriminated from those of senile tigroid fundus, drusen, mental function as measured by the Benton Visual Retention Test, and physical functions. It was suggested that the former fundus oculi changes were related to circulatory disease, while the latter were related to aging. 3) A severe broadened reflex predicted a high occurrence of C.V.D., and total mortality. In women, drusen had a significant direct relationship to a decline in score of the Benton Visual Retention Test. Retinal haemorrhage was related to higher total death rate in men, and women with crossing phenomenon tended to have strokes.