Abstract:
Introduction/Objective: To analyze risk factors in prematurely born children for severe form of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Methods: Our prospective cohort study included 769 preterm infants divided according to gestational age, into three groups: group I (≤ 28 weeks), group II (29-31 weeks), and group III (≥ 32 weeks). Analyzed risk factors for development of severe form of ROP were divided into four groups: prenatal (prolonged rupture of membrane, twin or multiple pregnancies, Caesarean Section, detachment of placenta, choriomanionitis, preeclampsia), neonatal (gender, gestational age, Apgar score, birth weight), applied therapy (duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, number of erythrocyte transfusions, use of dopamine), and co morbidities (chronic lung disease, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and patent ductus arteriosus.
Results: In the whole group, significant factors for the development of the severe form of ROP have been found to be chorioamnionitis (p=0,013), preeclampsia (p=0,049) and low gestational age (p=0,000). The highest incidence of the severe form of ROP (38.1%) was found in children born from 29-31 gestation weeks (GW). The main risk factors for ROP in this group of subjects were low birth weight (p=0,007), use dopamine (p=0,022) and duration of mechanical ventilation (p=0,012) or oxygen therapy (p=0,002).
After the 32nd GW, 8.9% of respondents developed a more severe form of ROP and in the group with 29-31 weeks, 38,1%.
Conclusion: The need for ophthalmologic examinations was justified after 32 GW in case of prolonged oxygen therapy (≥16,23 ± 9,963 days), mechanical ventilation (≥ 8,04 ± 9,949 days), or frequent transfusions (≥ 1,45 ± 1,682).
Keywords: prematurely born children, retinopathy of prematurity, risk factors
