Frequency of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Neonates with a Birth Weight below 1500 Grams and a Gestational Age Less than 32 Weeks: A Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in a Lower-Middle Income Country…

Abstract

IntroductionRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a treatable cause of blindness in neonates. In Pakistan, ROP is often not recognized early because screening and treatment programs are not yet in place in most neonatal units, even in tertiary care hospitals. It is hoped that this report will help inform medical professionals of the magnitude of the problem and help to design appropriate management strategies.ObjectivesThe aim was to determine the frequency of ROP in premature and very low birth weight (BW) neonates (BW<1500 g and gestational age (GA) <32 weeks).Study DesignCross-sectional study.Study SettingNeonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.Study DurationFrom June 2009 to May 2010.Subjects and MethodsNeonates with a Birth weight (BW) <1500 g and Gestational Age (GA) <32 weeks who were admitted to the NICU and received an eye examination, or were referred for a ROP eye examination as an outpatient, were included in the study. GA was estimated from intrauterine ultrasound findings. Neonates with major congenital malformations, syndromes or congenital cataracts or tumors of the eyes, and those that died before the eye examination or did not attend the out patients department for an eye examination, were excluded. The neonatal eye examination was performed by a trained ophthalmologist at 4 or 6 weeks of age.ResultsOut of 86 neonates, ROP was identified in nine neonates (10.5%) at the first eye examination. ROP was significantly associated with BW (P = 0.037), GA (P = 0.033), and chronological age (P<0.001).Conclusionswe identified ROP in 10.5% of neonates at first eye examination. Significant associations between ROP and a GA<32 weeks and a BW<1500 g were also observed.we also stress that serial follow-up of neonates at risk for ROP is important when making a final diagnosis.

Is human milk feeding protective for Retinopathy of Prematurity?

“…In our study the incidence of ROP was 4.4%. It is lower to the incidence reported in a study from Aga Khan University Hospital Pakistan,2 but very different from the studied in developed countries 3. This variation might be partly accounted by differences in the proportions of infants at high risk of ROP who survive when born at an early GA 2.…”

“…Advances in neonatal intensive care management of extremely premature infants in the developed world and now also in developing countries, has led to an increased survival and an increase risk of long term morbidities like retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) 1. There are differing trends in the frequency and severity of ROP ranging from 10.5% to as high as 58% 2,3. In preterm neonates the development of any ROP is associated with both lower birth weight (BW) and lower gestational age (GA) 4.…”

Mortality and Morbidity Patterns of Very Low Birth Weight Newborns in Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Meta-Analysis Study

“…In VP group, the most prevalent and the least comorbidities were NDD (73.0%, 95%CI:57.0-0.85) and NEC (0.0), respectively (21,22). Table 4 (10,(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32). The univariate and multiple-regression analysis were not possible in VP newborns because of the studies limitations.…”

Frequency of Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Tertiary Care Hospital

“…The incidence of ROP in Pakistan is not known as multi-center large prospective population-based studies had never been conducted. However, some studies from Pakistan reported the frequency of ROP is ranging from 10.5% [11] to 32.4% [12].…”