Effect of Genetic-Environmental Interaction on Chinese Childhood Myopia

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of genetic-environmental interaction on myopia in Chinese children aged 6 to 9 years. Methods. Students had the physical examination and were required to provide basic demographic information. Their families were asked to fill in a questionnaire concerning factors related to myopia. Multiple regression analysis was performed, and adjusted risk ratio values were calculated to assess the role between gene and environment. Value of the environmental and genetic index (EGI) was calculated to demonstrate the effect of genetic-environmental interaction on myopia. Results. The prevalence of myopia maintained at a high level. EGI was calculated as 0.125 suggesting that genetic factors may play the 12.5% role in the formation of myopia and environmental factors may play a role of 87.5% in the formation of myopia. Conclusions. For young pupils aged 6 to 9 years, myopia prevalence maintained at a high level, and duration of homework time and staring at electronic screen were the strongest factors associated with myopia. The calculated value of EGI was low, which suggests that environmental factors may play the leading role in the formation of myopia. A long-term follow-up research to improve the accuracy value of EGI is our next job.

School-related sedentary behaviours and indicators of health and well-being among children and youth: a systematic review

“…For the cross-sectional studies, null findings were observed in 2/14 studies [ 63 , 100 ], more sedentary behaviour was unfavourable for risks/harms in 5/14 studies [ 94 , 101 – 104 ], and mixed in 7/14 studies [ 99 , 105 – 110 ]. More sedentary behaviour was consistently unfavourable for risks/harms when compared to recess/PE (indicating recess/PE was beneficial for preventing risks/harms) [ 103 ].…”

“…More screen time was also consistently unfavourable for risks/harms [ 104 ]. More homework was consistently null in 2/12 studies [ 63 , 100 ] and unfavourable for risks/harms in 3/12 studies [ 94 , 101 , 102 ]. Mixed findings for homework included dose-response relationships in 5/12 studies, with unfavourable results (e.g., “too much” homework associated with more shoulder pain), null results (e.g., no association between “not enough” homework and shoulder pain), and favourable results (e.g., 6–8 h/day of studying or sitting associated with less neck and shoulder pain [sample median: 8–10 h/day of studying or sitting]) [ 99 , 105 – 107 , 110 ].…”

Lifestyle Risk Factors and the Population Attributable Fractions for Overweight and Obesity in Chinese Students of Zhejiang Province

“…The questionnaire which was developed and validated for the annual national project “Surveillance for common disease and health risk factors among students” since 2016, was used to collect lifestyle behaviors information in the present study. The validity of the questionnaire has been published previously ( 21 , 22 ). Three sets of questionnaires were used in students at primary schools, middle/high schools, and universities.…”

Relationship between Family and Myopia: Based on the Jiangsu School Student Myopia Study

“…(1) Nonmyopic children and lack of other serious eye diseases (2) Chinese Han nationality students (3) e ability of parents/guardians to provide informed consent Detailed information can be seen in previous studies [10,13].…”

“…Myopia is a complicated disease, and genetic as well as environmental factors contribute to its development [9]. Previously, we have demonstrated that environmental factors may play the leading role in forming myopia in Chinese children [10]. In a family, the parenting styles provided an environmental framework for children's psychosocial growth and were assumed to shape children's behavior [11].…”