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Retinopathy of prematurity: review of a four-year period
Insights
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects premature infants. Gestational age is a key factor, indicating ROP screening should extend beyond high-risk neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Ophthalmology
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of visual impairment in premature infants.
- Identifying risk factors for ROP is crucial for timely intervention and prevention of vision loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of ROP in at-risk neonates over a four-year period.
- To compare infants who developed ROP with matched controls to identify associated factors.
- To evaluate the role of gestational age as a predictor for ROP development.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 249 premature infants over four years.
- Comparison of 56 infants with ROP against 56 matched controls (sex, birth weight, gestational age).
- Analysis of clinical factors including sepsis, blood transfusions, and oxygen therapy parameters.
Main Results:
- Fifty-six out of 249 (22.5%) premature infants developed ROP.
- Significant differences observed in sepsis, blood transfusions, and oxygen monitoring periods between ROP and control groups.
- Gestational age at birth was the most consistent factor associated with ROP, but ROP occurred across all gestational age groups.
Conclusions:
- Gestational age is a critical determinant for ROP, but not the sole predictor.
- ROP can occur in premature infants not typically classified as high-risk.
- ROP screening recommendations should be broadened to include a wider range of premature infants.
Abstract:
For a four-year period the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was determined among neonates considered at risk of acquiring this condition. Fifty-six out of 249 premature infants developed some degree of ROP. Comparison of these infants with a group of 56 controls, admitted to hospital in the same period and matched for sex, birth weight, and gestational age, showed significant differences for sepsis, blood transfusions, and the period of oxygen monitoring in relation to the period of oxygen administration. The most consistent factor associated with the development of ROP was gestational age at the time of birth, though no gestational age group was entirely devoid of ROP. This suggests that screening for ROP should not be restricted to high-risk premature infants only.