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Study to evaluate the relation between weight gain in infants and occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity
Neha K Sethi1, Barkha Jain1, Natha Ram Gupta1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, India.
Insights
Infants with poor daily weight gain below 29.33 g/day face high risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Those gaining less than 21.91 g/day are at high risk for severe ROP, requiring meticulous monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal ophthalmology
- Pediatric medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of childhood blindness.
- Early risk stratification for ROP is crucial for timely intervention.
- Postnatal weight gain monitoring offers a potential low-cost screening method.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between daily postnatal weight gain and the occurrence of ROP in infants.
- To identify specific weight gain thresholds indicative of ROP risk.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational study involving 62 infants.
- ROP screening conducted per Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) criteria.
- Measurement of average daily postnatal weight gain and statistical analysis using SPSS.
Main Results:
- Mean daily weight gain was 33.12 g/day (no ROP), 27.19 g/day (mild ROP), and 15.31 g/day (treatable ROP).
- A weight gain cutoff of 29.33 g/day predicted ROP, while 21.91 g/day predicted severe ROP.
- Infants with treatable ROP had a mean gestational age of 31.38 weeks and birth weight of 1572.31 g.
Conclusions:
- Suboptimal weight gain (<29.33 g/day) is a significant risk factor for ROP.
- Weight gain below 21.91 g/day indicates a high risk for severe ROP.
- Daily weight gain monitoring can aid in prioritizing high-risk infants for closer follow-up.
Purpose:
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness. Capturing serial daily postnatal weight gain can act as an innovative, low-cost method of risk stratification. We aim to study the relation between weight gain in infants and occurrence of ROP.
Methods:
The prospective, observational study was conducted on 62 infants. ROP screening was done based on the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) criteria. Infants were classified into no ROP (n = 28), mild ROP (n = 8), and treatable ROP (n = 26) groups. Average daily postnatal weight gain was measured and its relation to development of ROP was studied. All statistical calculations were done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 21 version (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) statistical program for Microsoft Windows.
Results:
Mean rate of weight gain in no ROP group, mild ROP group, and treatable ROP group was 33.12, 27.19, and 15.31 g/day, respectively (P = 0.001). Mean gestational age and birth weight in treatable group (n = 26) were 31.38 weeks and 1572.31 g, respectively. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed a cutoff of 29.33 g/day for ROP and 21.91 g/day for severe ROP.
Conclusion:
We concluded that, babies with poor weight gain of below 29.33 g/day are at high risk for ROP and babies with wight gain of 21.91 g/day are at high risk for severe ROP. These babies should be followed meticulously. So, the rate of weight gain of a preterm can help us to prioritize babies.
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