Incidence and Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Tertiary Hospital in China

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the incidence and risk factors for the retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, China.

Methods

This retrospective case–control study included 611 preterm infants with birth weight (BW)<1500 grams admitted to the Department of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between January 2019 and December 2022. The incidence and risk factors for any stage and severe ROP were analyzed.

Results

Within 611 infants, 245(40.1%) developed ROP; 160(26.2%) infants were stage 1, 54(8.8%) were stage 2, and 31(5.1%) were stage 3, no stage 4 and 5. Among them, 22(3.6%) infants needed treatment. Multivariate analysis showed a higher gestational age (GA) was protective, whereas twin birth and moderate-to-severe BPD increased the hazard of any stage ROP; higher BW and male gender were significant risk factors for severe ROP.

Conclusion

Compared to other tertiary hospitals, the incidence of any stage ROP in our NICU was higher, but the rate of ROP needed treatment was lower. A higher GA was protective, whereas twin birth and moderate-to-severe BPD increased the hazard of any stage ROP; higher BW was protective, whereas male gender were risk factors for the development of severe ROP.

Keywords:

• retinopathy of prematurity
• low birth weight infants
• risk factors
• incidence

Abbreviations

BW, birth weight; GA, gestational age; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; PMA, post-menstrual age; ROP, retinopathy of prematurity; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; BPD, Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; NEC, Necrotizing enterocolitis; IVH, Intraventricular hemorrhage; RBC, red blood cell.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Key talents project of maternal and child health in Jiangsu province.