Frequency of ROP Diagnosis and Treatment in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants by Gestational Week and Birth Weight: A Single-Center Experience

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (BW) ROP patients stratified by different BW categories.
METHODS: This retrospective cohort study examined very low BW patients (≤1500 g) treated at a neonatal intensive care unit and subsequently assessed for ROP at the outpatient clinic. Data on gestational age (GA), BW, ROP severity, treatments, and outcomes were collected following international ROP classification criteria. Patients with type 1 ROP and aggressive ROP received treatment. Patients were categorized based on 250 g BW intervals, and ROP frequency and treatment rates were assessed by GA.
RESULTS: In this study, 116 patients, comprising 60.3% of females and 39.7% of males, were analyzed. The GA ranged from 23 to 34 weeks, with a mean of 30.03±2.64 weeks, while the mean BW was 1108±275 g, ranging from 370 g to 1490 g. ROP was present in 49.1% of patients and 19.8% required treatment. Lower BW and GA were significantly associated with ROP (p<0.05). ROP incidence and treatment rates varied across BW groups.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ROP diagnosis and treatment rates have risen over time, reflecting improvements in intensive care. Categorizing premature infants based on BW facilitates the development of screening criteria tailored to neonatal intensive care units and aids in predicting ROP diagnosis and treatment rates.