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New evidence on the protector effect of weight gain in retinopathy of prematurity
María J Chaves-Samaniego1, María C Chaves-Samaniego2, Antonio Muñoz Hoyos3
1Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain; Programa de Doctorado en Medicina Clínica y Salud Pública, Universidad de Granada, Spain.
Insights
Increased postnatal weight gain in preterm infants significantly reduces the risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment. Higher weight gain, especially above 14 g/day, is crucial for preventing severe ROP outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Critical Care
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable childhood blindness, stemming from abnormal retinal vascular development in premature infants.
- Early intervention is critical to prevent severe visual impairment in ROP cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between postnatal weight gain and the need for treatment in retinopathy of prematurity.
- To identify key factors influencing the development of ROP requiring intervention.
Main Methods:
- An observational, retrospective case-control study involving 233 preterm infants.
- Data collected and analyzed from infants examined between 1999 and 2019.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in postnatal weight gain, birth weight, gestational age, and comorbidities were observed between ROP groups requiring and not requiring treatment.
- Mean postnatal weight gain was higher in infants not requiring ROP treatment (12.75 g/day) compared to those requiring treatment (9.50 g/day).
- Increased weight gain correlated with a reduced risk of ROP requiring treatment, with risk reduction ranging from 2.76%-12.76% for infants gaining 10-20 g/day.
Conclusions:
- Higher postnatal weight gain in the first four weeks of life is associated with a decreased risk of developing ROP that necessitates treatment.
- A postnatal weight gain of at least 14 g/day appears beneficial in mitigating ROP treatment risk.
- Gestational age, birth weight, duration of mechanical ventilation, and comorbidities are important factors to consider when assessing ROP treatment risk.
Introduction:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is characterised by insufficient vascular development in the retina, and requires early treatment to avoid visual disability in severe cases. ROP is currently the second leading cause of preventable child blindness in the world.
Patients And Methods:
This was an observational, retrospective, case-control study including 233 preterm infants examined between 1999 and 2019.
Results:
Postnatal weight gain in the first 4 weeks of life, birth weight, gestational age, mechanical ventilation, transfusion, presence of sepsis, persistence of arterial ductus, necrotising enterocolitis, intraventricular haemorrhage, or periventricular leukomalacia were found to be significantly different between the ROP groups requiring and not requiring treatment. The mean postnatal weight gain in the ROP group not requiring treatment was 12.75 ± 5.99 g/day, whereas it was 9.50 ± 5.45 g/day in the ROP group requiring treatment. The risk of developing ROP that required treatment decreased with an increase in weight gain. The risk reduction was 2.76%-8.35% in preterm infants gaining 10 g/day, and 7.17%-12.76% in infants gaining 20 g/day.
Conclusions:
The risk of developing ROP requiring treatment decreased with increasing weight gain in the first 4 weeks of life. This was applicable in infants with postnatal weight gain ≥14 g/day. However, gestational age, birth weight, time of mechanical ventilation, and comorbidity should be taken into account when evaluating the risk of ROP requiring treatment.
