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Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity in Northern Ireland, 2000-2011: a population-based study
Sarah Chamney1, Lorraine McGrory2, Emma McCall3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, United Kingdom.
Insights
The incidence of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Northern Ireland has significantly increased between 2000 and 2011. This rise in ROP cases necessitates careful planning for specialized neonatal eye care services.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Ophthalmology
- Public Health Surveillance
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Monitoring ROP incidence is crucial for understanding trends and planning healthcare services.
- Northern Ireland has a defined population for epidemiological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Northern Ireland over a 12-year period (2000-2011).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for infants treated for ROP.
- Cross-referencing data with the Neonatal Intensive Care Outcomes Research and Evaluation (NICORE) database.
- Analysis of population data, including live births, birth weight, gestational age, and mortality rates.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of treatment-requiring ROP increased from 1.05% in 2000 to 5.78% in 2011 (P < 0.001).
- The proportion of infants born with low birth weight (<1501 g) or early gestational age (<32 weeks) remained constant.
- Mortality rates for these infants before 42 weeks' gestation decreased during the study period.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant increasing trend in the incidence of treatment-requiring ROP in Northern Ireland.
- The growing number of infants needing ROP treatment requires proactive planning for service provision.
- This population-based study underscores the need for continued surveillance and resource allocation for ROP care.
Purpose:
To evaluate the incidence of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) over a 12-year-period in Northern Ireland.
Methods:
The medical records of all infants treated for ROP from January 2000 to December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed and cross-referenced with the Neonatal Intensive Care Outcomes Research and Evaluation (NICORE) database.
Results:
The Northern Ireland population data showed an increase in the number of live births from 2000 to 2011. The proportion of babies born with a birth weight <1501 g and/or <32 weeks' gestational age remained constant (χ(2) trend = 3.220, P = 0.0727), although the proportion of these babies who died prior to 42 weeks' gestation decreased from 2000 to 2011 (P = 0.0196 using χ(2) for trend = 5.445; P = 0.0354 using χ(2) = 20.809). The prevalence of treatment-requiring ROP in these infants increased from 1.05% in 2000 to 5.78% in 2011 (P < 0.001 using χ(2) trend = 16.309; P < 0.001 using χ(2) = 31.378).
Conclusions:
The present population-based study highlights that the incidence of treatment- requiring ROP is increasing in Northern Ireland. The increasing number of infants requiring treatment will need to be taken into consideration in the commissioning process for ROP services in Northern Ireland.
