Evaluation of a Risk Screening Tool for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in a German Cohort

To assess the efficacy of the DIGIROP-Birth algorithm in identifying infants at risk for developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

In a retrospective study, we included preterm infants over 11 years, 2010-2020, meeting the inclusion criteria for the DIGIROP-Birth calculator (24 + 0/7 to 30 + 6/7 weeks of gestational age). We assessed the validity of DIGIROP-Birth using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calculated area-under-curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values.

897 infants were included in the analysis. The median age of the first ophthalmological examination was 40 days (IQR 32-50), the median gestational age was 198 days (IQR 185-209; corresponding to 28 + 2/7 gestational weeks), median birth weight was 1000 g (IQR 790-1300). Of 897 screened children, 458 (51.1%) were diagnosed with ROP, and 34 of 897 (3.8%) required treatment.Analysis of ROP requiring treatment predicted by DIGIROP showed an AUC of 0.860 [95%-CI 0.795-0.925]. An equilibrium of sensitivity and specificity existed at a probability of 4.12%. The positive predictive value was 10.95%, and the negative predictive value was 99.36%. Independent significant peri- and postnatal risk factors were emergency cesarean section and mass blood transfusions.

The DIGIROP-Birth calculator showed good predictive power in our studied population, with an incidence of 3.79% for therapy-requiring ROP. Peri- and postnatal risk factors should be included in ROP screening.