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Published on: February 2, 2017
Risk factors for rapid axial length growth in a prospective cohort study of 3-year to 9-year-old Chinese children
Yanze Yu1,2,3, Hao Chen4, Zhe Zhang1,2,3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Insights
Excessive homework and near work increase rapid axial length growth in young children. For older children, being female and needing myopia correction are risk factors, while outdoor activity is protective.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Myopia Research
Background:
- Rapid axial length (AL) growth in children is a key factor in myopia development.
- Understanding age-specific determinants of AL growth is crucial for effective myopia control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify factors contributing to rapid axial length (AL) growth in children aged 3-9 years.
- To delineate AL growth trajectories and associated risk factors in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 4,435 children (2019-2022) with annual measurements of AL, corneal curvature, refraction, and visual acuity.
- Data collection included demographics, parental myopia, height, weight, and behavioral factors.
- Latent class growth modeling and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze AL trajectories and identify growth determinants.
Main Results:
- Children aged 3-6 years showed faster AL elongation with excessive homework (OR, 2.86) and near-work (OR, 2.13).
- In children aged 7-9 years, rapid AL growth was associated with being female (OR, 2.05) and baseline myopia correction need (OR, 3.19).
- Outdoor activity demonstrated a protective effect against rapid AL growth in the 7-9-year group (OR, 0.65).
Conclusions:
- Distinct risk factors for rapid axial length growth exist across different age groups in children.
- Age-specific strategies for myopia prevention and control are necessary, considering factors like homework, near work, gender, and outdoor time.
Aims:
To identify factors contributing to rapid axial length (AL) growth in children aged 3-9 years.
Methods:
Four thousand four hundred thirty-five children were followed from 2019 to 2022. AL and corneal curvature were measured using an IOLMaster 500, while refractometry and visual acuity were also assessed. Baseline data included demographics and parental myopia status, with annual updates on height, weight and behavioural factors. Latent class growth model was used to discover AL trajectories, whereas multiple logistic regression was used to identify determinants of rapid AL elongation.
Results:
For all participants, baseline age and parental myopia influenced AL growth. Specifically, children aged 3-6 years exhibited faster AL elongation when engaging in persistent excessive homework time (OR, 2.86, 95% CI 1.31 to 6.95) and near-work activities (OR, 2.13, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.10). For the 7-9-year group, the risk factors of rapid AL growth included being female (OR, 2.05, 95% CI 1.45 to 2.90) and need myopia correction at baseline (OR, 3.19, 95% CI 2.02 to 5.02). Notably, actively engaging in outdoor activities had a protective effect in the 7-9-year group (OR, 0.65, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.97).
Conclusions:
This study delineates AL growth trajectories in children aged 3-9 years and highlights distinct risk factors for rapid AL growth. These findings underscore the necessity of implementing age-specific strategies for myopia prevention and control.
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