Evaluation of Retinopathy of Prematurity: Four-year Follow-up Study in a Newly Established Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the leading causes of childhood vision loss in both developed and developing countries. In this study, we aimed to assess the results of ROP screening and treatment, and to evaluate the risk factors in our newly established unit. We also compared our data with other studies reported in Turkey.

Methods: Two-hundred and forty eight (33.9%) infants were enrolled in ROP screening between January 2012-January 2016. The results of ROP screening and treatment, and the risk factors for ROP in infants followed up in a newly established neonatal intensive care unit were determined.

Results: ROP was observed in 25.8% of premature infants in different stages and zones. In the logistic regression analysis, we found an increased risk of ROP development in those patients with the following risk factors: Low gestational age [p=0.0001, odds ratio (OR)=0.73], sepsis (p=0.003, OR=0.57), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p=0.0035, OR=0.41).

Conclusion: Good antenatal care, improving unit conditions, and regular screening will decrease the ROP incidence in our facility to the level of developed countries. Hopefully, this will help to reduce the future sequelae of visual function loss in these patients. The awareness of the risk factors and the complications of ROP will decrease the incidence of the disease in unexperienced and newly organized NICUs.