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Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Monitoring Dynamic Growth of Retinal Vessels in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Mouse Model
Published on: April 2, 2021
[Screening and risk factors analysis of retinopathy of prematurity]
Shao-dong Hua1, Yao-qin Chen, Jian-ying Dong
1Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Ba Yi Children's Hospital Affiliated to The Military General Hospital of Beijing, The People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100700, China.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is more common in premature infants with low birth weight, small gestational age, and prolonged oxygen therapy. Screening all high-risk preterm infants is recommended to prevent vision loss.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal ophthalmology
- Perinatal medicine
- Public health
Context:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for timely intervention and prevention of severe visual outcomes.
- This study retrospectively analyzed data from 1675 preterm infants screened for ROP.
Purpose:
- To identify key risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for establishing rational ROP screening standards.
- To analyze the relationship between clinical parameters and ROP incidence.
Summary:
- Low birth weight, small gestational age, asphyxia, apnea, and oxygen therapy were identified as significant risk factors for ROP.
- Incidence of ROP increased with lower birth weight, smaller gestational age, and longer duration/higher concentration of oxygen therapy.
- Logistic regression analysis confirmed these factors, with odds ratios indicating their predictive value.
Impact:
- Findings support the recommendation for screening all preterm infants exhibiting high-risk factors for ROP.
- This evidence can inform clinical guidelines and improve ROP screening protocols.
- Early detection and intervention can mitigate the severity of ROP and prevent blindness in vulnerable infants.
Objective:
To analyze the risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and provide evidence for the rational establishment of screening standard.
Methods:
The clinical data of 1675 preterm infants at gestational age < or = 36 weeks or birth weight < or = 2500 g who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and had been screened in our hospital from July 2006 to May 2008 were analyzed retrospectively by univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Gender, birth count, gestational age, birth weight, oxygen therapy, and mother's conditions were recorded.
Results:
ROP was detected in 195 (11.6%) of 1675 infants, of whom 35 infants (2.1%) had type 1 or threshold ROP. The lower the birth weight, the smaller the gestational age and the longer the time of oxygen therapy were, the higher the incidence of ROP was. For the infants whose birth weight was < or = 1200 g, 1201 - 1500 g, 1501 - 2000 g, 2001 - 2500 g, the incidence of ROP was 73.2%, 30.4%, 8.0%, and 1.1%; for those at gestational age < or = 30 weeks, 30(+1)-32 weeks, 32(+1)-34 weeks, 34(+1)-36 weeks, the incidence of ROP was 67.6%, 16.9%, 3.9%, and 1.0%; for the infants underwent oxygen therapy for 0 d, -3 d, -5 d, -8 d, > 8 d, the incidence of ROP was 1.5%, 3.3%, 9.6%, 23.2% and 38.8%;in the infants who inhaled oxygen at concentrations of 0.40, -0.60, -0.80 and > 0.80, the incidence of ROP was 11.8%, 18.1%, 26.8%, and 52.6%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis indicated that low birth weight, small gestational age, asphyxia, apnea, oxygen therapy were the high risk factors of ROP (the odds ratio was 0.957, 1.052, 1.186, 5.314, and 1.881).
Conclusions:
Low birth weight, small gestational age, asphyxia, apnea, and oxygen therapy were the high risk factors of ROP. It is recommended that all preterm infants with high risk factors should be screened.

