Evaluation of Risk Factors That Play Roles in Retinopathy of Prematurity

Abstract

Aim. Increasing survival rates of preterm babies have made it necessary to focus on complications of prematurity, such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Material and Methods: Between February 2011 and March 2018, the medical records of babies born at 32 weeks of gestation or earlier and examined for ROP at Gaziosmanpa;a University, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) were analyzed retrospectively. Risk factors that may be associated with the development of ROP in infants were determined. Results: A total of 193 infants were included in the study. Mean gestational age at birth and birth weight were 30.1 +/- 1.9 weeks and 1487 +/- 395 grams, respectively. ROP was detected in 61 (34%) of the infants, and 11 (18.1%) of those required treatment Comparison of the characteristics of infants with and without ROP showed that gestational age at birth, birth weight, need for positive pressure ventilation in the delivery room, need and number of blood transfusions, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH), presence of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), hyperglycemia, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels at discharge, period of oxygen support, time to achieve full enteral nutrition, and length of hospital stay were significant factors related to the development of ROP. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, birth weight, gestational age at birth, and period of oxygen support were the only independent risk factors. Discussion: It is extremely important to identify risk factors for ROP and to take timely preventive and therapeutic measures for better premature outcomes.