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Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Born Children
Jasmina Alajbegovic-Halimic1, Denisa Zvizdic1, Emina Alimanovic-Halilovic1
1Eye Clinic, University Clinic Center Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Insights
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) affects premature infants
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neonatology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease affecting premature infants' developing retinal blood vessels.
- It can lead to severe vision impairment and blindness if untreated, but timely screening enables prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of active ROP in a cohort of premature infants.
- To identify significant risk factors contributing to the development of active ROP.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective clinical study observed 80 premature infants from January to May 2015.
- Data on identified risk factors were collected and analyzed for eye examinations.
Main Results:
- Active ROP developed in 6.2% of cases; 93.8% resolved spontaneously.
- Infants with active ROP had significantly earlier gestational ages (26.4±1.5 weeks) and lower birth weights (874±181 grams).
- Lower Apgar scores and longer oxygen therapy duration (20±3.4 days) were also noted in active ROP cases.
Conclusions:
- Early gestational age, low birth weight, lower Apgar scores, and prolonged oxygen therapy are statistically significant risk factors for active ROP.
- These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and managing these factors in premature infants.
Introduction:
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) represent disease of the eye in premature born children which affects immature blood vessels of the retina during their development. The emergence of retinopathy of prematurity depends on the interaction of multiple factors, such as: gestational age, low birth weight, hypoxia, duration of oxygen supplementation, respiratory distress syndrome, twin pregnancy, anemia, blood transfusions, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, hypotension, hypothermia, etc. If remain unrecognized and untreated it can cause severe visual impairment and blindness in children, but can also be prevented with timely screening.
Goals:
To establish the number of patients with development of retinopathy of prematurity active forms in the observed time period and examine which risk factors have most significant impact on its origin.
Material And Methods:
In a clinical, retrospective study we observed a total of 80 premature born children in the period from January to May 2015 with regard to listed risk factors identified for eye examination.
Results:
From a total of 80 premature newborns sample included 48.8% male and 51.2% female children. The active form of ROP developed in 6.2% of cases, while in 93.8% of cases there was a spontaneous resolution. Patients who developed active form of ROP have significantly younger gestational age (26.4±1.5 weeks) and lower birth weight (874±181 grams), lower Apgar score in the first and fifth minute and were longer on oxygen therapy (20±3.4 days).
Conclusion:
Of the potential risk factors that could affect the development of ROP active form following factors have a statistically significant influence: early gestational age, low birth weight, lower Apgar score and prolonged oxygen therapy (p <0.05).
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