Purpose To describe the ocular axial length (AL) distribution in children play the piano and evaluate its influential factors.
Methods 1724 Shanghainese schoolchildren aged 6-11 years were enrolled in this study, of which 901 had the piano playing experience and attended in the 2010 Piano Grading Test and 823 never played the piano prior to our study. Information about age, gender, height, parental myopia, time spent on near work and outdoor activity, and piano-related factors were collected through a questionnaire. AL measurement was performed using the IOL Master. Different multivariate linear regression models were applied to investigate the association between response variable and explanatory variables.
Results AL in the whole sample were normally distributed, mean AL of all the subjects was 23.54±0.99 mm. In the multivariate regression model, AL was greater in children with higher body height (b=0.01, P<0.001), with 2 and 1 myopic parents (vs. no myopic parent, b=0.44 and 0.23, P<0.001), with previous piano playing experience (vs. non-piano playing counterparts, b=0.21, p<0.001), and spent less than 0.5h/d on outdoor activities (vs. at least 1.5h/d, b=0.16mm, P<0.05). The above factors remained associated with AL when analyzed only in piano playing children. After adjustments were made for them, children practiced playing the piano every day (vs. discontinuously, b=0.14, p=0.048) and attended in higher level of the piano grading test (b=0.11, p<0.001) tended to have longer AL; age at which children began to learn the piano, total hours per day spent on practicing and duration of each practice before taking a break had no statistical significant influence on AL (P>0.05).
Conclusions In Shanghainese schoolchildren aged 6-11 years, AL was greater in children with more myopic parents, taller body height, and spent less time on outdoor sports; AL was greater in children with piano playing experience, especially in those practiced more frequently (everyday) and attended in higher level of piano grading test. |
