Retinopathy of Prematurity and Maternal Age

Abstract

Purpose To determine the risk factors, especially maternal risk factors, associated with the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature babies. Methods A matched case–control study involving premature patients was undertaken retrospectively. The case group consisted of premature babies with the subsequent development of ROP. The control group consisted of gestational age-matched and sex-matched premature babies that did not develop ROP during the follow-up period. Risk factors involving patient demographics and maternal characteristics were compared between the case and control groups. Results A total of 144 patients were included in this study (72 patients in the case group and 72 patients in the control group). Among the 66 possible risk factors compared, only birth weight and maternal age were found to be significant risk factors. Birth weight was significantly lower in the case group (1,248.7 ± 257.8 g vs. 1,335.5 ± 297.2 g, P = 0.01), and maternal age was significantly older in the case group compared with that in the control group (31.2 ± 5.1 years vs. 28.2 ± 5.3 years, P < 0.001). The odds ratio of having babies with ROP was 2.9 when the maternal age was >30 years. Conclusion Older maternal age is a newly identified risk factor for the development of ROP in premature babies.

Effects of maternal and placental inflammation on retinopathy of prematurity

“…Lower gestational age and birth weight were still the most important risk factors for the occurrence and progression of ROP, based on multivariate analyses, in agreement with previous studies [3,4,6]. However, we found no association between ROP and any of the following, which have been previously reported as obstetric risk factors for ROP: singleton gestations (vs plural gestations), advanced maternal age, and male gender [4,34,35]. The reason for this discrepancy may be related to the differences in the ethnicity and sample size.…”

Current update on retinopathy of prematurity: screening and treatment

“…al. found in 144 Asian preterm infants that maternal age is a significant risk factor in addition to birth weight 16 , suggesting a potentially race-dependent maternal risk factor for ROP that is different from that observed in Western population 17 .…”

Natural History of Retinopathy of Prematurity

“…Possible systemic risk factors associated with ROP were collected, including the Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minutes, 3 atrial septal defect, 19 bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 19 intraventricular hemorrhage, 5 necrotizing enterocolitis, 5 patent ductus arteriosus, 5 respiratory distress syndrome, 20 sepsis, 20 pneumonia, 5 anemia, usage of surfactant, blood transfusion, 5 duration of oxygen usage, 20 and assisted ventilation. 21 Possible maternal risk factors included maternal age, 22 type of delivery, gestational diabetes, 23 premature rupture of membrane, chorioamnionitis, 24 pregnancy-induced hypertension, 25 placenta previa, abruption previa, preeclampsia, 7 eclampsia, and multiple delivery. 26 Patients were divided into three groups to further analyze and compare the risk factors: no ROP, nontreatment-requiring ROP, and treatment-requiring ROP.…”