Prevalence of myopia and associated risk factors among key schools in Xi’an, China

Abstract

Abstract Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of myopia and high myopia and the associated risk factors in key schools in Xi'an, China.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2021. A total of 11,011 students from 10 key primary schools, five key junior high schools and five key high schools in Xi'an were randomly selected to receive visual acuity and diopter tests. The questionnaire was completed by the students and their parents together.Results: The prevalence of myopia and high myopia in key schools were 75.7% and 9.7%, respectively. The prevalence of myopia and high myopia rose significantly as grade or age increased (all P < 0.001), and the prevalence of myopia and high myopia in females was higher than that in males (P < 0.001, P < 0.5). According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, older age (OR=1.42), female compared with male (OR=1.43), parental history of myopia (OR=1.64,2.30) and often taking extracurricular tuition (OR=1.35) were more likely to develop myopia (P < 0.001). Older age (OR=1.39), parental history of myopia (OR=2.29,3.69), and often take extracurricular tuition (OR=1.48) were more likely to lead to high myopia (P < 0.001).Conclusions: The overall rate of myopia and high myopia in key schools in Xi'an, China, is extremely high. Myopia and high myopia are related to increasing age, parents’ myopia, few outdoor exercises, and extracurricular tuition. Myopia is also related to female students and the inability to do ‘one punch, one foot, one inch’.