Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39266991›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2024

Prevalence, sociodemographic risk factors, and coverage of myopia correction among adolescent students in the central region of Portugal.

Amélia Fernandes Nunes, Mariana Cunha, Miguel Castelo-Branco Sousa, Cristina Albuquerque Godinho

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Prevalence of Myopia in Europe: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Amélia Fernandes NunesDepartment of Physics, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, 6200, Portugal. amnunes@ubi.pt.ORCID 0000-0002-5001-3534
Mariana CunhaDepartment of Physics, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, 6200, Portugal.
Miguel Castelo-Branco SousaAcademic Clinical Center of Beiras, Covilhã, Portugal.
Cristina Albuquerque GodinhoNOVA National School of Public Health, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundKnowing the prevalence of myopia at school age is essential to implement preventive measures and appropriate interventions, ensure access to vision care, promote a healthier educational environment and improve academic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of myopia and its associated sociodemographic risk factors, as well as to estimate the coverage of myopia correction among adolescents in center of Portugal.

methodsThis cross-sectional study evaluated 1115 adolescents from the 5th to the 9th year of school, with an average of 12.9 years (SD = 1.5) ranging from 10.0 to 18.0 years. Optometric evaluations were carried out in a school environment and consisted of the evaluation of distance visual acuity, assessed using a logarithmic visual acuity chart (ETDRS charts 1 and 2) at 4 m, and measured by refractive error with a pediatric autorefractometer (Plusoptix), by non-cycloplegic. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent (SE ≤ -0.50 diopter (D)) and uncorrected visual acuity (UVA ≤ 95VAR). Adjusted logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate risk factors.

resultsWe found a myopia rate of 21.5% and a high myopia rate of 1.4%. Higher school level and attendance at urban schools were associated with myopia, but no association was found with age or sex. Only 34.6% of myopic adolescents use the best optical correction and 26.4% do not use any type of optical correction.

conclusionsData on the prevalence of refractive problems in Portugal are scarce and heterogeneous. This study, although regional, provides a valuable contribution with a clear and reproducible methodology, following international guidelines and filling gaps in the existing literature. The results show that the rate of myopia in this age group is similar to reports from other European studies. The high rate of adolescents with uncorrected or under-corrected myopia in Portugal is a problem that deserves attention.

Indexed as

MyopiaAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePortugalPrevalenceRisk FactorsSociodemographic FactorsSocioeconomic FactorsStudentsVisual AcuityAdolescenceMyopiaMyopia correction coverageSociodemographic factorsUrban-suburban disparityVisual acuity

Identifiers

PMID39266991
PMCPMC11396740

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.