{
  "abstract": "Objectives To analyse changes in the prevalence of suspected scoliosis among children and adolescents in Heqing County, South-West China, over different periods and to identify risk factors for its progression.Design A mixed-methods study, including a cross-sectional survey and longitudinal follow-up.Setting Single-centre study. An angle of torso rotation (ATR) ≥5° was defined as a positive screening result and progression was defined as an increase in ATR ≥2°.Participants In November 2021, 22 740 students aged 6–18 years were screened; in May 2023, 28 009 students aged 6–18 years were screened. A total of 350 students with suspected scoliosis identified in 2021 were enrolled for longitudinal follow-up.Results The prevalence of suspected scoliosis was 2.47% in 2021 (22 740 students) and 3.14% in 2023 (28 009 students). Among 4468 students screened in both years, 109 (2.44%) tested positive in 2021 and 124 (2.78%) in 2023. Prevalence was significantly higher in girls (2.92% in 2021; 4.36% in 2023) than in boys (2.01% in 2021; 1.94% in 2023) and higher in the 10–18 years age group (3.38% and 4.11%) than in the 6–10 years age group (0.59% and 0.83%; both p<0.001). From 2021 to 2023, overall prevalence, as well as prevalence among girls and the 10–18 years age group, increased significantly (all p<0.001), whereas no significant changes were observed in boys (p=0.71) or the 6–10 years age group (p=0.07). Of 329 students with suspected scoliosis in 2021 who completed follow-up in 2023, 35 (10.6%) showed progression. Progression was significantly associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and higher baseline ATR, with correlation coefficients of −0.112 and 0.127, respectively (both p<0.01). Binary logistic regression showed that higher BMI was associated with reduced progression risk (OR=0.827, 95% CI 0.700 to 0.978, p<0.05).Conclusion The prevalence of suspected scoliosis in children and adolescents in Heqing County was higher in 2023 than in 2021. Approximately 10.6% of individuals with suspected scoliosis progressed over 1.5 years. BMI may serve as a protective factor against scoliosis progression.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Li Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Zhibo Song"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Yanrui Yang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Yingsong Wang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Zhi Zhao"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Xiaochen Yang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Genghao Qian"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Weijie Xie"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Zhiyue Shi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Tao Li"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Ni Bi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Orthopedics, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Research Center of Scoliosis and Spinal Deformities, Kunming City, China",
        "Yunnan Provincial Department of Education Engineering Research Center of Innovative Technology for Spinal Deformities Prevention and Treatment, Kunming City, China"
      ],
      "name": "Zhaoquan Zhang"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Prevalence of suspected scoliosis based on angle of torso rotation in children and adolescents in Heqing County at different periods: a large-sample mixed-methods study",
  "uid": "94fdeebd-5c17-51d1-b588-abfcefd04a79"
}