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Preterm-born children, screen time, and spectacle wear in the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project: a cohort study
V Iyer1,2, M L A de Kroon1,3, C C W Klaver4,5,6,7
1Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
Insights
Preterm birth increases spectacle wear risk in 5-year-olds, but this effect diminishes by adolescence. Screen time did not influence spectacle wear in preterm or full-term children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Science
Background:
- Preterm birth is a known risk factor for refractive errors.
- Increased screen time and close working distances may exacerbate visual health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent and combined effects of preterm birth and screen time on spectacle wear.
- To assess these effects in early childhood (5 years) and adolescence.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project (LOLLIPOP) cohort.
- Assessment of spectacle wear and screen time via questionnaires at ages 5 and 13-16.
- Comparison between early preterm (EP), moderately-late preterm (MLP), and full-term (FT) born children.
Main Results:
- At age 5, EP and MLP children showed significantly higher spectacle wear prevalence (7.8%, 7.6%) compared to FT children (3.2%).
- Spectacle wear risk decreased with each additional week of gestational age at age 5.
- In adolescence, spectacle wear prevalence was higher overall, with no significant differences between EP, MLP, and FT groups.
- No association was found between screen time and spectacle wear, nor a combined effect with preterm birth at either age.
Conclusions:
- Early and moderately-late preterm birth are associated with increased spectacle wear risk at age 5.
- This association is not significant in adolescence, where spectacle wear prevalence is generally higher.
- Screen time does not appear to influence spectacle wear or modify the effect of preterm birth on spectacle wear.
Introduction:
Preterm born children are at a higher risk for refractive errors. A long duration of screen time and activities with short working distance (≤30 cm) may further add to the increased risk. The aim of this study was to assess the separate and combined effects of preterm birth and screen time on spectacle wear among 5-year-olds and adolescents.
Methods:
We analyzed data from the community-based preterm cohort study, part of the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project (LOLLIPOP). Early preterm-born (EP < 32 weeks), moderately-late preterm-born (MLP 32-36 weeks) and full-term born (FT 38-42 weeks) children were followed. Spectacle wear and screen time were assessed by questionnaire at the age of 5 (n = 1,515) and at adolescence, ages 13-16, for a subsample (n = 227).
Results:
At age 5, the prevalences of spectacle wear were 7.8%, 7.6% and 3.2%, for EP, MLP, and FT children, respectively (p = 0.007); the risk of spectacle wear decreased by 7% for each additional week of gestational age. In adolescence, prevalences were 36.6%, 20.8% and 22.4%, for EP, MLP, and FT children, respectively (p = 0.12). We found no relationship between screen-time and spectacle wear or a combined effect with preterm birth at age 5 or adolescence.
Conclusions:
EP and MLP children have a significantly increased risk of spectacle wear at age 5, but not significantly at adolescence. At that age, the prevalences of spectacle wear were generally higher. We found no evidence for an association of screen time preterm birth with spectacle wear, and neither an impact of screentime on such an association.
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