Retinopathy of prematurity: incidence and risk factors: a hospital based study

Background: Survival rate of preterm neonates have reported to be higher compare to previous due to recent advancement in neonatal care with subsequent increase in the number of babies affected by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study evaluates the incidence of ROP and estimates associated potential risk factors.
Methods: Prospective study on infants fulfilling the screening criteria admitted to Neobless between November 2017 to April 2018. Aim: To evaluate the risk factors predisposing to severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a level III neonatal unit. ROP screening was done by experts from Aravind Eye Hospital, Coimbatore, Kerala using RETCAM. Treatment was offered for Type I ROP and aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP) with intravitreal Injection Bevacizumab (Avastin) and LASER.
Results: Out of that 91 babies, who fulfilled the screening criteria, were included in the study. Out of 91 infants screened 9 (9.8%) were diagnosed as Severe ROP and required treatment, the remaining 82 babies (90.2%) did not require treatment (Non ROP group). Out of the 9 cases with Severe ROP, 8 were treated with intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin) and only one case required Laser treatment. All of them had good outcome on subsequent follow ups.
Conclusions: There was found to be significant association between duration of oxygen therapy (p value <0.001), sepsis (p value <0.001) and blood transfusions(p value 0.001) with Severity of ROP.