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Low birth weight is a risk factor for severe retinopathy of prematurity depending on gestational age

Pia Lundgren1, Anna Kistner2, Eva M Andersson3

  • 1Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Plos One
|October 21, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight standard deviation scores (BWSDS) are a significant risk factor for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment, particularly in more mature preterm infants (gestational age ≥26 weeks). The impact of BWSDS on ROP risk is dependent on infant immaturity.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Ophthalmology
  • Perinatal Medicine

Background:

  • Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of vision loss in preterm infants.
  • Birth weight and gestational age are known risk factors for ROP, but the precise impact of birth weight deviations requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between low birth weight (BW) and the risk of developing ROP requiring treatment.
  • To assess the influence of gestational age (GA) at birth on the relationship between BW and ROP risk.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 2941 preterm infants (GA <32 weeks) across five international cohorts.
  • Calculation of birth weight standard deviation scores (BWSDS) using Swedish and Canadian reference models.
  • Multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors for ROP requiring treatment, including BWSDS and GA.

Main Results:

  • Low GA, male gender, and low BWSDS were identified as significant risk factors for ROP requiring treatment.
  • The association between low BWSDS and ROP risk was stronger in infants born at GA ≥26 weeks compared to those born earlier.
  • Interaction between BWSDS and GA group significantly predicted ROP requiring treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Low BWSDS is a critical risk factor for vision-threatening ROP, with its importance escalating in infants with higher gestational age (≥26 weeks).
  • The degree of infant immaturity modifies the impact of low birth weight on ROP development.
  • These findings underscore the need to consider both BW and GA when assessing ROP risk.
Abstract

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