Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Sep 28;19(1):585.
doi: 10.1186/s13018-024-05077-0.

The prevalence of scoliosis among adolescents in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Xinlei Fu #  1 , Shilong Meng #  2 , Xiating Huang  1 , Wei Li  2 , Baisheng Ye  2 , Siwen Chen  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The prevalence of scoliosis among adolescents in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Xinlei Fu et al. J Orthop Surg Res. .

Abstract

Background: To systematically evaluate the prevalence of scoliosis in adolescents aged 10-18 years in China, and to provide evidence-based evidence for the early identification, prevention, and management of scoliosis in adolescents.

Methods: We searched 7 databases of CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library from January 2000 to June 2024, and included related studies on scoliosis among Chinese adolescents aged 10-18. The quality evaluation criteria of cross-sectional studies recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) were used for literature quality evaluation. Stata 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

Results: We finally included 42 studies, involving a total of 1,149,330 subjects from 30 regions. The results showed that the prevalence of scoliosis in Chinese adolescents aged 10-18 years was 1.2% [95%CI (1.1%, 1.4%)]. The results of the subgroup analyses are as follows: ① The prevalence of scoliosis in adolescent women (1.6%) was higher than that in men (1.0%). ② The prevalence of scoliosis in adolescents aged 16-18 (1.3%) was higher than that in adolescents aged 10-15 (1.1%). ③ By region, the prevalence of scoliosis was slightly higher in the North (1.3%) than that in the South (1.2%). ④ According to the time of publication, the prevalence of scoliosis in Chinese adolescents increased from 0.9% during 2000-2015 to 1.6% during 2016-2024. ⑤ According to the degree of the Cobb angle, the curve magnitude was mainly mild (Cobb angle: 10°-19°), and the prevalence rate was 0.7%; the second was moderate (Cobb angle: 20°-39°), with a prevalence of 0.2%.

Conclusion: The prevalence of scoliosis in adolescents aged 10-18 years in China is 1.2%, suggesting that the prevalence may be gradually increasing in recent years. In addition, the degree of scoliosis is mainly mild, and timely intervention and prevention are necessary.

Keywords: China; Epidemiology; Meta-analysis; Scoliosis; Teenager.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Literature retrieval process diagram
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Meta-analysis Forest figure of the prevalence of scoliosis in adolescents in China
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sensitivity analysis figure of the prevalence of scoliosis in adolescents in China
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Spinal Surgery Group, Society of Osteology, Chinese Medical Association. Clinical practice guidelines and pathway guidelines for screening for scoliosis in Chinese adolescents [J]. Chin J Orthop. 2020;40(23):1574–82.
    1. Jada A, Mackel CE, Hwang SW, et al. Evaluation and management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a review [J]. Neurosurg Focus. 2017;43(4):E2. - PubMed
    1. El-Hawary R, Chukwunyerenwa C. Update on evaluation and treatment of scoliosis [J]. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2014;61(6):1223–41. - PubMed
    1. Scaturro D, Costantino C, Terrana P, et al. Risk factors, Lifestyle and Prevention among adolescents with idiopathic juvenile scoliosis: a Cross Sectional Study in Eleven First-Grade secondary schools of Palermo Province, Italy [J]. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(23):12335. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Kuznia AL, Hernandez AK, Lee LU. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: common questions and answers [J]. Am Fam Physician. 2020;101(1):19–23. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources