Edited Antara Ghosh

TOPLINE:

More time spent exposed to screens is associated with a higher risk for myopia in children and adolescents; the use of computers and televisions appears to have the most significant effects on eye health.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 102,360 children and adolescents to assess the association between screen time and myopia.
• Data were collected from studies published before June 1, 2023, in three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Screen time was categorized by device type, including computers, televisions, and smartphones, and analyzed using random or fixed-effect models.
• The analysis included both cohort and cross-sectional studies.

TAKEAWAY:

• High exposure to screen time was significantly associated with myopia in both cross-sectional (odds ratio [OR], 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47-3.42) and cohort studies (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 2.07-2.76).
• In cohort studies, each extra hour per day spent using screens increased the risk for myopia by 7% (95% CI, 1.01-1.13).
• Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations between myopia and screen time on computers (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 4.78-14.04) and televisions (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02-2.10), whereas time spent using smartphones was not significantly associated with myopia.

IN PRACTICE:

“With the development of technology and GDP [gross domestic product], educational pressure may lead students to use screen devices such as smartphones and computers for long periods of time to learn online courses, receive additional tutoring or practice, and increase the incidence of myopia,” wrote the authors.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Zhiqiang Zong of Anhui Medical University in Hefei, China. It was published online in BMC Public Health.

LIMITATIONS:

The majority of the studies included were cross-sectional, which cannot establish causality. High heterogeneity was found among the included studies, possibly due to differences in research design, population characteristics, and exposure levels. Some studies did not adjust for important confounding factors such as outdoor activities.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by grants from the Educational Commission of Anhui Province of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

More time spent exposed to screens is associated with a higher risk for myopia in children and adolescents; the use of computers and televisions appears to have the most significant effects on eye health.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 102,360 children and adolescents to assess the association between screen time and myopia.
• Data were collected from studies published before June 1, 2023, in three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Screen time was categorized by device type, including computers, televisions, and smartphones, and analyzed using random or fixed-effect models.
• The analysis included both cohort and cross-sectional studies.

TAKEAWAY:

• High exposure to screen time was significantly associated with myopia in both cross-sectional (odds ratio [OR], 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47-3.42) and cohort studies (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 2.07-2.76).
• In cohort studies, each extra hour per day spent using screens increased the risk for myopia by 7% (95% CI, 1.01-1.13).
• Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations between myopia and screen time on computers (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 4.78-14.04) and televisions (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02-2.10), whereas time spent using smartphones was not significantly associated with myopia.

IN PRACTICE:

“With the development of technology and GDP [gross domestic product], educational pressure may lead students to use screen devices such as smartphones and computers for long periods of time to learn online courses, receive additional tutoring or practice, and increase the incidence of myopia,” wrote the authors.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Zhiqiang Zong of Anhui Medical University in Hefei, China. It was published online in BMC Public Health.

LIMITATIONS:

The majority of the studies included were cross-sectional, which cannot establish causality. High heterogeneity was found among the included studies, possibly due to differences in research design, population characteristics, and exposure levels. Some studies did not adjust for important confounding factors such as outdoor activities.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by grants from the Educational Commission of Anhui Province of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

More time spent exposed to screens is associated with a higher risk for myopia in children and adolescents; the use of computers and televisions appears to have the most significant effects on eye health.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 19 studies involving 102,360 children and adolescents to assess the association between screen time and myopia.
• Data were collected from studies published before June 1, 2023, in three databases: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.
• Screen time was categorized by device type, including computers, televisions, and smartphones, and analyzed using random or fixed-effect models.
• The analysis included both cohort and cross-sectional studies.

TAKEAWAY:

• High exposure to screen time was significantly associated with myopia in both cross-sectional (odds ratio [OR], 2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.47-3.42) and cohort studies (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 2.07-2.76).
• In cohort studies, each extra hour per day spent using screens increased the risk for myopia by 7% (95% CI, 1.01-1.13).
• Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations between myopia and screen time on computers (OR, 8.19; 95% CI, 4.78-14.04) and televisions (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.02-2.10), whereas time spent using smartphones was not significantly associated with myopia.

IN PRACTICE:

“With the development of technology and GDP [gross domestic product], educational pressure may lead students to use screen devices such as smartphones and computers for long periods of time to learn online courses, receive additional tutoring or practice, and increase the incidence of myopia,” wrote the authors.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Zhiqiang Zong of Anhui Medical University in Hefei, China. It was published online in BMC Public Health.

LIMITATIONS:

The majority of the studies included were cross-sectional, which cannot establish causality. High heterogeneity was found among the included studies, possibly due to differences in research design, population characteristics, and exposure levels. Some studies did not adjust for important confounding factors such as outdoor activities.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported by grants from the Educational Commission of Anhui Province of China, Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine, and National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.

TOPLINE:

Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are prescribed dupilumab may be at a reduced risk for atopic march progression, defined as the development of asthma or allergic rhinitis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the US Collaborative Network, focusing on pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with two AD diagnoses at least 30 days apart.
• Patients were divided into two cohorts: Those treated with dupilumab (n = 2192) and those who received conventional therapies (n = 2192), including systemic corticosteroids or conventional immunomodulators. They were stratified into three age groups: Preschoolers (< 6 years), school-aged children (6 to < 12 years), and adolescents (12-18 years).
• Both cohorts underwent 1:1 propensity score matching based on current age, age at index (first prescription of dupilumab or conventional therapy), sex, race, comorbidities, laboratory measurements, and prior medications. The primary outcome was atopic march progression, defined by incident asthma or allergic rhinitis.

TAKEAWAY:

• Over 3 years, the dupilumab-treated cohort had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of atopic march progression (20.09% vs 27.22%; P < .001), asthma (9.43% vs 14.64%; P = .001), and allergic rhinitis (13.57% vs 20.52%; P = .003) than the conventional therapy cohort.
• The risk for atopic march progression, asthma, and allergic rhinitis was also significantly reduced by 32%, 40%, and 31%, respectively, in the dupilumab vs conventional therapy cohort.
• Age-specific analyses found that the protective effect of dupilumab against allergic rhinitis was the most pronounced in adolescents (hazard ratio [HR], 0.503; 95% CI, 0.322-0.784), followed by school-aged children (HR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.399-0.834), and preschoolers (HR, 0.623; 95% CI, 0.412-0.942).
• However, dupilumab was associated with reduced risk for asthma only in preschoolers (HR, 0.427; 95% CI, 0.247-0.738) and not in school-aged children or adolescents.

IN PRACTICE:

“Dupilumab in AD not only treats the disease but may influence atopic march mechanisms, suggesting its role as a disease-modifying atopic march drug,” the authors wrote, adding that more research “with extended follow-up and proof-of-concept is warranted.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Teng-Li Lin, MD, Department of Dermatology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan, and was published online on June 13, 2024, in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The observational nature of the study limited the ability to infer direct causality between dupilumab use and reduced atopic march risk. Lack of detailed information on AD severity, total dosage, and duration of medication treatment may affect the interpretation of the study’s findings. The demographic data suggest that the dupilumab cohort had more severe AD, so the observed risk reduction may be greater than that reported in this study.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported in part by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, and Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com .

TOPLINE:

Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are prescribed dupilumab may be at a reduced risk for atopic march progression, defined as the development of asthma or allergic rhinitis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the US Collaborative Network, focusing on pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with two AD diagnoses at least 30 days apart.
• Patients were divided into two cohorts: Those treated with dupilumab (n = 2192) and those who received conventional therapies (n = 2192), including systemic corticosteroids or conventional immunomodulators. They were stratified into three age groups: Preschoolers (< 6 years), school-aged children (6 to < 12 years), and adolescents (12-18 years).
• Both cohorts underwent 1:1 propensity score matching based on current age, age at index (first prescription of dupilumab or conventional therapy), sex, race, comorbidities, laboratory measurements, and prior medications. The primary outcome was atopic march progression, defined by incident asthma or allergic rhinitis.

TAKEAWAY:

• Over 3 years, the dupilumab-treated cohort had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of atopic march progression (20.09% vs 27.22%; P < .001), asthma (9.43% vs 14.64%; P = .001), and allergic rhinitis (13.57% vs 20.52%; P = .003) than the conventional therapy cohort.
• The risk for atopic march progression, asthma, and allergic rhinitis was also significantly reduced by 32%, 40%, and 31%, respectively, in the dupilumab vs conventional therapy cohort.
• Age-specific analyses found that the protective effect of dupilumab against allergic rhinitis was the most pronounced in adolescents (hazard ratio [HR], 0.503; 95% CI, 0.322-0.784), followed by school-aged children (HR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.399-0.834), and preschoolers (HR, 0.623; 95% CI, 0.412-0.942).
• However, dupilumab was associated with reduced risk for asthma only in preschoolers (HR, 0.427; 95% CI, 0.247-0.738) and not in school-aged children or adolescents.

IN PRACTICE:

“Dupilumab in AD not only treats the disease but may influence atopic march mechanisms, suggesting its role as a disease-modifying atopic march drug,” the authors wrote, adding that more research “with extended follow-up and proof-of-concept is warranted.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Teng-Li Lin, MD, Department of Dermatology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan, and was published online on June 13, 2024, in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The observational nature of the study limited the ability to infer direct causality between dupilumab use and reduced atopic march risk. Lack of detailed information on AD severity, total dosage, and duration of medication treatment may affect the interpretation of the study’s findings. The demographic data suggest that the dupilumab cohort had more severe AD, so the observed risk reduction may be greater than that reported in this study.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported in part by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, and Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com .

TOPLINE:

Pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are prescribed dupilumab may be at a reduced risk for atopic march progression, defined as the development of asthma or allergic rhinitis.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the US Collaborative Network, focusing on pediatric patients aged 18 years and younger with two AD diagnoses at least 30 days apart.
• Patients were divided into two cohorts: Those treated with dupilumab (n = 2192) and those who received conventional therapies (n = 2192), including systemic corticosteroids or conventional immunomodulators. They were stratified into three age groups: Preschoolers (< 6 years), school-aged children (6 to < 12 years), and adolescents (12-18 years).
• Both cohorts underwent 1:1 propensity score matching based on current age, age at index (first prescription of dupilumab or conventional therapy), sex, race, comorbidities, laboratory measurements, and prior medications. The primary outcome was atopic march progression, defined by incident asthma or allergic rhinitis.

TAKEAWAY:

• Over 3 years, the dupilumab-treated cohort had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of atopic march progression (20.09% vs 27.22%; P < .001), asthma (9.43% vs 14.64%; P = .001), and allergic rhinitis (13.57% vs 20.52%; P = .003) than the conventional therapy cohort.
• The risk for atopic march progression, asthma, and allergic rhinitis was also significantly reduced by 32%, 40%, and 31%, respectively, in the dupilumab vs conventional therapy cohort.
• Age-specific analyses found that the protective effect of dupilumab against allergic rhinitis was the most pronounced in adolescents (hazard ratio [HR], 0.503; 95% CI, 0.322-0.784), followed by school-aged children (HR, 0.577; 95% CI, 0.399-0.834), and preschoolers (HR, 0.623; 95% CI, 0.412-0.942).
• However, dupilumab was associated with reduced risk for asthma only in preschoolers (HR, 0.427; 95% CI, 0.247-0.738) and not in school-aged children or adolescents.

IN PRACTICE:

“Dupilumab in AD not only treats the disease but may influence atopic march mechanisms, suggesting its role as a disease-modifying atopic march drug,” the authors wrote, adding that more research “with extended follow-up and proof-of-concept is warranted.”

SOURCE:

The study was led by Teng-Li Lin, MD, Department of Dermatology, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan, and was published online on June 13, 2024, in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

LIMITATIONS:

The observational nature of the study limited the ability to infer direct causality between dupilumab use and reduced atopic march risk. Lack of detailed information on AD severity, total dosage, and duration of medication treatment may affect the interpretation of the study’s findings. The demographic data suggest that the dupilumab cohort had more severe AD, so the observed risk reduction may be greater than that reported in this study.

DISCLOSURES:

The study was supported in part by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, and Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The authors had no relevant conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com .