Ethnic Disparities in Risk Factors for Myopia among Han and Minority Schoolchildren in Shawan, Xinjiang, China

Abstract

SIGNIFICANCE:The ethnic differences in myopia rates, ocular dimensions, and risk factors between Han and non-Han schoolchildren observed in this study may help fill the knowledge gap about ethnic minorities and are important for China and other countries to address vision-related health inequalities among different ethnic groups.PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the risk factors of juvenile myopia and elucidate the disparities of risk factors among Han and non-Han school students in Xinjiang, China.METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study of 876 schoolchildren from grades 1 to 9 was conducted in the Anjihai Middle School in Shawan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Visual acuity and ocular biometry were assessed, and personal information, including behavior, birth status, and familial factors, was collected using self-made standardized questionnaires. RESULTS:The myopia rate among students of Han ethnicity (50.5%) was the highest, followed by Hui (41.3%) and Uygur et al. (32.0%, P < .001). Similar patterns were observed for mean axial length. The mean axial lengths are 23.7, 23.4, and 23.3 mm, respectively (P = .01). Overall, performing high-quality eye exercises, longer sleep duration, being born in summer, parental smoking, and consuming more food containing anthocyanins were all associated with a lower incidence of myopia. Meanwhile, Han ethnicity, intensive near task, bad eye habits, and myopic mothers were associated with higher odds of myopia. After adjusting for environmental influences pertaining to myopia, the variation in myopia prevalence between Han and Uygur et al. remained significant, whereas it changed to not significant between Han and Hui ethnicities.CONCLUSIONS: Significant disparities were found in the prevalence of myopia among various ethnic groups in Shawan, Xinjiang. Life habits, birth status, and familial factors may contribute to such variance and play different roles in the occurrence of juvenile myopia among various ethnicities.

Sleep Quality is Associated with Axial Length Elongation in Myopic Children Receiving Orthokeratology: A Retrospective Study

“…Previous studies from China and Japan revealed that poor sleep quality was related to an increased incidence of myopia; 14 , 29 thus, sleep quality demonstrated a potential risk factor for myopia incidence. An epidemiological study on multiple ethnic groups in Xinjiang revealed that longer sleep time was associated with lower myopia incidence; 30 however, several other studies do not support this observation. For example, a cross-sectional study in Singapore found that sleep quality, duration, timing, as well as specific sleep factors were not independently associated with myopia, SE, or AL.…”

Epidemiological study of refractive errors in children and adolescents of Han and Li ethnics in the Ledong and Wanning areas of Hainan Province

“…In some studies, the prevalence of myopia in adolescents with more outdoor activities is lower than that in those with only indoor activities, and fewer outdoor activities ( 22 , 25 ). Some studies have also shown that environmental risk factors, especially longer periods of near-work, have a significant impact on the prevalence of myopia ( 26 , 27 ). Epidemiological surveys show that the prevalence of myopia among students from economically underdeveloped areas and rural areas is lower than that of students from economically developed areas and cities ( 28 , 29 ).…”

Unveiling the Hidden Links: A Mendelian Randomization Study on the Causal Relationship between Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, and the Development of Myopia and Astigmatism

“…Nevertheless, a study conducted on the UK ALSPAC database presents a contrasting perspective, suggesting that the act of smoking during pregnancy by grandmothers actually diminishes the prevalence of early-onset myopia. [15][16][17] .The Singapore Myopia Risk Factor Cohort Study (STARS) also suggests that maternal smoking may affect ocular development via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, thereby reducing myopia in children 18,19 ..The cross-sectional reports from different regions and age groups in China also support the view that smoking is bene cial to reducing myopia [20][21][22] . The Spanish prospective cohort study (SUN project) followed the relationship between alcohol intake and myopia over a 10-year period after graduation, and found that alcohol consumption was signi cantly associated with the prevalence of myopia.…”