Frequency and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity among preterm neonates in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a leading cause of childhood blindness, occurs in premature babies. Several factors like perinatal infection, inflammation, hypoxia, hypercapnia, higher oxygen support etc. have been attributed to the cause. Identifying the potentially modifiable risk factors will contribute to making preventive strategy. Objective: To identify the frequency and risk factors of ROP in premature babies. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Neonatology of BSMMU after approval from the institutional review board over a period of twelve months. Infants born <35 completed weeks, weighing <2000 g admitted in NICU are included in this study. After enrollment, screening for ROP was done at 20 days for the baby -gestational age of ≤ 30 weeks or birth weight ≤ 1200 g and at 30 days for the baby- gestational age ≤ 35 weeks or birth weight ≤ 2000g. ROP screening test was done by a pediatric ophthalmologist with indirect Ophthalmoscope. The outcome measures were the frequency and risk factors of ROP. Results: Between 2021 and 2022, 154 infants born ≤ 35 weeks gestation, weighing ≤ 2000 g were screened for ROP. Among the studied cases 30 (19.5%) patients had ROP. Among the 30 patients, 16 (53.33%) had AP-ROP, 3 (10%) had plus disease and 3 (10%) had stage IV (6.67%) ROP. Among the newborns diagnosed with ROP, 23 (76.67%) required treatments. Among them, Inj. Avastin was given to 18 (78.26%) patients, 5 (21.7%) needed Laser therapy but none of them required surgery. Univariate analysis showed risk of ROP was significantly higher in lower gestational age and lower birth weight group. Frequency of sepsis, duration of oxygen support, need for CPAP, hospital stay, and Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were significantly higher among ROP group. Antenatal corticosteroid significantly lowered the risk of ROP. Multivariate analysis also showed that antenatal corticosteroid had protective effect against ROP and prematurity, lower birth weight, sepsis, longer duration of oxygen therapy, and longer duration of hospital stay increased the risk of ROP. Conclusions: This prospective observational study showed frequency of ROP was 19.5%. Prematurity, lower birth weight, lack of antenatal-corticosteroid, sepsis, longer duration of oxygen support, and longer hospital stay are some potential risk factors of developing ROP