A population-based cohort study of 394,401 children followed for 10 years exhibits sustained effectiveness of scoliosis screening

Abstract

Background contextThe value of scoliosis screening has been recently shown in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. However, the long-term sustainability of the clinical effectiveness of scoliosis screening as a routine health service remains unknown. PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess the sustainability of the clinical effectiveness of school scoliosis screening. Study design/settingA large population-based cohort study with a 10-year follow-up was conducted. Patient sampleA total of 394,401 students who were in the fifth grade during the five academic years from 1995/1996 to 1999/2000 formed five consecutive annual cohorts. The students were eligible for the Hong Kong scoliosis screening program, with their screening history and medical records until their nineteenth birthdays being assessed. Outcome measuresThe outcome measures considered in the study were development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by the 19 years of age and the Cobb angle. MethodsThe clinical effectiveness of scoliosis screening was assessed by referral rate for radiographic diagnosis, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. ResultsA total of 306,144 students (78%) participated in scoliosis screening, which used a two-tier system. The prevalence of curves of 20° or greater was 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.7–1.8%), whereas the referral rate for radiography, the sensitivity, and the positive predictive value (PPV) for curves of 20° or greater were 4.1% (95% CI, 4.0–4.2%), 91% (95% CI, 90–92%), and 40% (95% CI, 39–41%), respectively. Across the five consecutive annual cohorts, the prevalence and sensitivity for curves of 20° or greater increased by 0.23% (95% CI, 0.21–0.25%; p<.001) and 0.76% (95% CI, 0.43–1.04%; p<.001) per year, respectively; however, the PPV was reduced by 1.71% (95% CI, 1.09–2.33%; p<.001) per year. ConclusionsThis report describes the first large population-based study with a long-term follow-up indicating that a scoliosis screening program can have sustained clinical effectiveness in identifying patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis needing clinical observation. As the prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis increases, scoliosis screening should be continued as a routine health service in schools or by general practitioners if there is no scoliosis screening policy.