Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity and Risk Factors Among Premature Infants at a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Canada

Abstract

Gestational age and birth weight were the most significant risk factors for developing ROP. The study population had an elevated percentage of infants with birth weight less than 1,000 g (extremely low birth weight), yet there was no corresponding increase in severe ROP incidence and treatment when compared to other studies.

A prospective observational study of retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary care centre with respect to its incidence, risk factors and short term outcomes

“…From July 2006-July2010, a study was conducted in Canada, where 423 infants were screened for ROP. In this study, the incidence of ROP was 40.4% and gestational age and birth weight were the most significant risk factors for developing ROP 1 . In December 2009 and January 2010, a study was done at Cape Town, South Africa.…”

“…The incidence of ROP in these studies from South India varied from 21.6% to 53.4% [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] . The incidence of ROP globally varied from 11.8% to 68.0% 1,4,[15][16][17][18][19][20] . In the present study the incidence of ROP was 19.9%.…”

“…Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can, if untreated, lead to blindness due to retinal detachment, macular folds, refractive-amblyopia and strabismicamblyopia 1 . Early detection of severe ROP and assessing risk factors allows specific treatment and intervention time, decreasing severity of ROP sequelae and unfavourable outcomes 1 .…”

“…Early detection of severe ROP and assessing risk factors allows specific treatment and intervention time, decreasing severity of ROP sequelae and unfavourable outcomes 1 . WHO Vision 2020 programme identifies ROP as an important cause of blindness in both high and middle income countries 2 .…”

“…The risk factors with statistically significant association with development of ROP were severe apnoea and low birth weight 4 . Various studies have documented many associated risk factors for ROP such as gestational age, birth weight, oxygen supplementation, intraventricular haemorrhage, sepsis, blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation, and surfactant therapy 1,2,3,4 .…”