Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) – A Prospective Study in a Tertiary Care Centre-Patna

Purpose: Retinopathy Of Prematurity is a complex disease of developing retinal vasculature that primarily affects one or both eyes of premature babies. There are certain risk factors for ROP like RDS, CPAP, Mechanical Ventilation, Prolonged oxygen supplementation and few others. Screening of high-risk neonates at the right time will lead to early diagnosis and treatment thus preventing blindness due to ROP.
Methods: After getting approval from ethical committee, this study was carried out from 1-9-2019 to 31-8-2020. It included 177 neonates based on inclusion criteria. Babies were screened by ophthalmologist trained in ROP screening. Pupils were dilated using 0.5% Tropicamide+2.5% Phenylephrine eye drops till dilation was obtained. To study the incidence of ROP and associated risk factors of ROP in, (a)Preterm with gestational age of ≤ 34 weeks and/or birth weight < 1750 gm. (b) Selected preterm with birth weight 1751-2000gm and/or 34-36 weeks who are at high risk due to associated risk factors.
Results: The present study observed the incidence of ROP as 29.94%. On univariate analysis, Prematurity (P<0.001), Low Birth Weight (P<0.001), Supplemental Oxygen (P<0.001), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), Apnea of Prematurity (AOP) (P<0.001), Blood transfusion (P<0.001), Sepsis (P<0.001), Feed Intolerance (P<0.001), Phototherapy (P<0.001), and Singleton Pregnancy (P<0.01) have risk factors for ROP.
Conclusion:  Reducing the incidence of ROP may be achievable through the prevention of prematurity, careful management of at-risk infants, and minimization of contributing risk factors. Effective screening and timely intervention will prevent the progression of ROP to end stages thus decreasing the incidence of Blindness.