Prevalence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity inWestern Maharashtra

Abstract

ROP is a disease of the developing immature blood vessels in the retina of premature new born by toxicity of oxygen. With the recent advances in neonatal care there has been improvement in rates of survival in premature infants. Factors playing a role in ROP are low gestational age, low birth weight and increased oxygen supplementation after birth.To study the prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity and to determine its risk factors.A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary centre from September 2018 to August 2020. 60 babies were screened with birth weight less than 1500 gms and gestational age less than 32 weeks. History was taken from parents and fundus examination was done. The grading of stages and zones was done. Data was entered in Excel and tests of statistical significance were used. The prevalence of ROP was 28%. ROP was seen in zone III in 70% and 47% had stage 2 ROP. Only 7% mothers had completed less than 28 weeks of gestation. The mean birth weight was 1.36 kgs. 71% of the ROP positive babies were delivered by normal vaginal delivery. 100% babies diagnosed with ROP had been subjected to oxygen supplementation. 47% babies developed sepsis whereas 76% babies had history of RDS. ROP is a preventable cause of blindness in childhood. Early screening by an ophthalmologist is important to prevent this. The burden of ROP is bound to rise due to increased advances in the field of neonatology if screening protocols are not implemented stringently.