Association between health examination items and body mass index among school children in Hualien, Taiwan

Abstract

BackgroundTo assess the prevalence of obesity and major physical examination items including dental caries, myopia, pinworm, hematuria, and proteinuria among school children in Hualien, Taiwan. In addition, the health status differences between gender, grader, levels of residence urbanization, and body mass index (BMI) were examined.MethodsCross-sectional studies with a total of 11,080 students (age, 7–14 years) in grades 1, 4, and 7 were evaluated for weight, height, routine physical examination, and urine analysis during the 2010 Student Health Examination in Hualien. Frequencies, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were conducted using SPSS.ResultsOf the 11,080 students evaluated, 1357 (12.2%) were overweight, and 1421 (12.8%) were obese. There were significant differences in overweight/obese prevalence by gender, by grader, and by levels of residence urbanization. Dental caries, myopia, and obesity were the most prevalent health problems among these students (75.6%, 33.0%, and 12.8%, respectively). In crude and adjusted analyses, research results showed that there were significant differences in the prevalence of major physical examination items between different gender, grader, levels of residence urbanization, and BMI groups. Girls had a higher prevalence of dental caries, myopia, and hematuria than boys (all p < 0.01), whereas boys had a higher prevalence of pinworm than girls (p = 0.02). Students in higher grades had significantly higher prevalence of myopia, hematuria, and proteinuria (all p < 0.01), whereas students in lower grades had higher prevalence of dental caries and pinworm (p < 0.01). Students with abnormal BMI had lower prevalence of pinworm (p < 0.01). Students residing in suburban and rural areas had higher prevalence of dental caries, pinworm, and hematuria (all p < 0.01), and lower prevalence of myopia than students residing in urban areas (all p < 0.01).ConclusionRoutine health examination provides an important way to detect students’ health problems. Our study elucidated major health problems among school children in Hualien, Taiwan. In addition, the results also indicated that the prevalence of health problems had a significant relationship with gender, grader, levels of residence urbanization, and BMI. It is suggested that school health interventions should consider students’ health profiles along with their risk factors status in planning.

Elevated light levels in schools have a protective effect on myopia

“…Recently, researchers have paid more attention to the potential influence of urbanisation on myopia, and the possible adverse effects of higher urbanisation levels have been verified . Family income may be a factor that reflects urbanisation levels to some extent, and the influences on myopia are complicated by the effects of housing type, lighting levels, parental education levels, and parental myopia.…”

The predisposing factors between dental caries and deviations from normal weight

“…[ 23 ] On application of binomial regression analysis, females were found to be 1.84 times risk of developing caries than males. The results were in concordance with study done by Chu et al ., (2013)[ 24 ] who found the females were 1.34 times risk of developing caries than males. This is perhaps due to the fact that girls are having the habit of taking snacks between meals because of their longer indoor stay in comparison to boys who mostly spend time in outdoor activities.…”

Differential prevalence of hematuria and proteinuria with socio-demographic factors among school children in Hualien, Taiwan

“…1 Since 2007, all school children in Hualien have received a health examination including a urinalysis in grades 1, 4, and 7 by the same tertiary care hospital in eastern Taiwan. Our previous study reported that the overall prevalence of hematuria and proteinuria in 2010 among Hualien school children was 3.8% and 2.4%, respectively, 6 and increased prevalence of hematuria and proteinuria was found in the following years (unpublished data). Children with persistent isolated microhematuria have an increased risk for renal damage and CKD progression due to cytotoxic, oxidant, and inflammatory effects induced by heme or hemoglobin released from red blood cells.…”