Innovative nomogram helps identify children at risk for myopia

Researchers have developed a reliable nomogram to predict the risk of myopia in school-age children, which can be used to identify high-risk students and aid in the prevention and control of myopia, according to a study.

A case-control study conducted in 3 primary schools in China, involving 3512 students, aimed to analyze the factors influencing myopia and to construct a nomogram for forecasting its risk, thereby aiding in the identification and prevention of high-risk cases.

Researchers employed random cluster sampling to gather data through questionnaires, myopia screenings, and ocular biometric parameter measurements. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to pinpoint factors influencing myopia, and a nomogram was subsequently developed for risk prediction. The reliability of the nomogram was tested through bootstrap resampling.

Key Findings:

• Older age (OR = 1.164), female sex (OR = 2.405), maternal myopia (OR = 1.331), incorrect posture during reading and writing (OR = 1.283), and axial length (OR = 7.708) were identified as significant risk factors for myopia.
• An increase in corneal radius (OR = 0.036) was found to be a protective factor against myopia.
• The nomogram demonstrated high accuracy, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.857 and a substantial net benefit within a risk threshold range of 0.20 to 1.00.

The study concludes that the newly developed nomogram is an effective tool for predicting myopia risk in schoolchildren. This tool can be instrumental in early screening and individualized myopia prevention strategies, potentially curbing the rising incidence of myopia among young students.

Reference
Mu J, Zhong H, Jiang M, et al. Development of a nomogram for predicting myopia risk among school-age children: a case-control study. Ann Med. 2024;56(1):2331056. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2331056. Epub 2024 Mar 20. Erratum in: Ann Med. 2024 Dec;56(1):2363586. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2363586. PMID: 38507901; PMCID: PMC10956924.