Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity and Its Association with Oxygen Therapy in Preterm Low Birth Weight Babies

Abstract

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to study the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm low birth weight babies and its association with oxygen therapy. Material and Methods: During one year study period, 50 neonates, who had fulfilled the inclusion criteria (born at gestational age ≤ 35 wks), were included in the present study. They were examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy by an ophthalmologist in NICU or ophthalmology outdoor. Staging of ROP was done according to the International classification. Data obtained from this study were entered in Microsoft Excel and subsequently analysed in SPSS version 20.0. Results: Among study population, 12 neonates (24%) showed evidence of retinopathy of prematurity, and Stage 2 ROP was most common (41.7%) within this group. Those neonates who had born ≤28 wks gestational age, showed more incidence (75%) of ROP. There was significant association between ROP and prematurity, low birth weight, mechanical ventilation, duration and concentration of oxygen therapy. Conclusion: Apart from prematurity and low birth weight, oxygen therapy also carries significant risk for ROP. Thus, judicious use of oxygen in premature babies can reduce incidence of ROP significantly.

Simultaneous Fluorescein Angiography and Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Correlate Retinal Thickness Changes to Vascular Abnormalities in an In Vivo Mouse Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity

“…In the United States alone, 14,000–16,000 preterm infants are diagnosed with ROP every year, and the worldwide prevalence is increasing [2]. ROP prevalence has been shown to be strongly correlated to prematurity, low birth weight, and oxygen therapy [3, 4]. Oxidative stress has been clearly implicated in the etiology of ROP [5].…”

Neonatal oxygen therapy in low- and middle-income countries: a pragmatic review

“…Neonatal oxygen therapy in low-and middle-income countries: a pragmatic review Journal of Global Health Reports T Fourteen publications provided information on the relationship between neonatal oxygen therapy and retinopathy of prematurity, with eleven of those publications describing studies in South Asia, one in Egypt, and another two in Nigeria. 7,21,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] All of these publications reflected studies conducted at tertiary care hospitals and described neonates who had been given care in their facility. 7,21,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]36 Eleven out of the fourteen publications described cohort studies that selected a group of neonates with risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity and attempted to describe the prevalence and risk factors for the development of retinopathy of prematurity.…”

“…7,21,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] All of these publications reflected studies conducted at tertiary care hospitals and described neonates who had been given care in their facility. 7,21,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]36 Eleven out of the fourteen publications described cohort studies that selected a group of neonates with risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity and attempted to describe the prevalence and risk factors for the development of retinopathy of prematurity. 21,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34]36 The selection criteria for the neonates varied from study to study, but generally involved gestational age and weight criteria for screening, and then included other neonates who met other risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity.…”

“…7,21,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34]36 Eleven out of the fourteen publications described cohort studies that selected a group of neonates with risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity and attempted to describe the prevalence and risk factors for the development of retinopathy of prematurity. 21,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34]36 The selection criteria for the neonates varied from study to study, but generally involved gestational age and weight criteria for screening, and then included other neonates who met other risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity. 21,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34]36 Clinical information on the monitoring of oxygen therapy in neonates was not provided in nine out of the eleven publications, while Sathar et al and Adio et al each described continuous monitoring of SpO2 on a pulse oximeter with a target SpO2 under 95%.…”

“…21,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34]36 The selection criteria for the neonates varied from study to study, but generally involved gestational age and weight criteria for screening, and then included other neonates who met other risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity. 21,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34]36 Clinical information on the monitoring of oxygen therapy in neonates was not provided in nine out of the eleven publications, while Sathar et al and Adio et al each described continuous monitoring of SpO2 on a pulse oximeter with a target SpO2 under 95%. 21,24,26,27,[29][30][31][32][33][34]36 Of these eleven publications, four found oxygen therapy to be significantly associated with retinopathy of prematurity, and six found oxygen therapy to be a risk factor for the development of retinopathy of prematurity.…”