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Frequency of retinopathy of prematurity at a tertiary referral center
Niusha Kasiri1, Ali Kasiri2, Fereydoun Farrahi2
1School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects 39% of premature infants, with lower birth weight and gestational age being key risk factors. These findings highlight the need for early screening and intervention in high-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal ophthalmology
- Perinatal medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Increased survival rates of premature infants have led to a rise in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) prevalence.
- ROP poses a significant threat to infant vision, necessitating research into its frequency and risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of ROP in premature infants.
- To identify associated risk factors for ROP in a specific cohort.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, descriptive-analytical study was conducted on premature infants (birth weight ≤ 2,500 g and/or gestational age ≤ 35 weeks).
- Data on demographics, risk factors, and eye examination findings were collected over a 7-year period (April 2013–April 2020).
Main Results:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was observed in 39.0% of the 807 eligible premature infants.
- Lower gestational age (mean 29.6 weeks) and birth weight (mean 1,203.6 g) were significantly associated with ROP.
- Key risk factors included oxygen therapy (22.8%), respiratory distress (16.1%), and phototherapy (14.6%).
Conclusions:
- Low birth weight and gestational age are independent predictors of ROP.
- The observed ROP frequency aligns with and slightly exceeds reported averages, underscoring the need for vigilant screening protocols.
Background:
With advances in medical facilities and increased survival of premature infants, the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has increased. This study aimed to determine the frequency of ROP and its associated risk factors.
Methods:
This descriptive-analytical, retrospective study included all premature infants with a birth weight (BW) ≤ 2,500 g and/or gestational age (GA) ≤ 35 weeks who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, for ROP screening over a 7-year period from April 2013 to April 2020. Demographic criteria, associated risk factors, and findings of eye examinations were collected and analyzed.
Results:
Of the 812 at-risk infants screened, 807 met the inclusion criteria. ROP was observed in 316 (39.0%) of the 807 premature infants, with types I and II in 142 (45.0%) and 174 (55.0%) infants, respectively. The mean (SD) GA (29.6 [2.5] weeks versus 30.7 [2.5] weeks) and BW (1,203.6 [382.8] g versus 1,333.5 [386.5] g) were significantly lower in infants with ROP than in those without ROP (both P < 0.001). GA (r = 0.80; P < 0.001) and BW (r = 0.85; P < 0.001) had a strong positive correlation with ROP, and the correlation increased as GA and BW decreased (all P < 0.001). Associated risk factors in infants with ROP, in order of frequency, were oxygen therapy (22.8%), respiratory distress (16.1%), phototherapy (14.6%), blood transfusion (5.7%), apnea (4.1%), mechanical ventilation (1.6%), and intraventricular hemorrhage (0.9%). Multivariate regression analyses showed low GA and BW (both P < 0.05) as independent predictors of ROP.
Conclusions:
The frequency of ROP in premature infants was slightly higher than the average range reported for domestic and foreign statistics. Low BW and GA were independent predictors of ROP.
