DR. LEKHA T.

DR.DIVYA BALAKRISHNAN, DR.A. GIRIDHAR, DR. ANUBHAV GOYAL

Abstract

Purpose: To study the overall incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), treatment requiring ROP (TROP), course and risk factors in extreme preterm (EPT) and extreme low birth weight (ELBW) infants

Methods: Retrospective analysis of NICU based ROP screening from January to December 2021 in a tier 2 city in Kerala was done. Inclusion criteria were gestational age (GA) ≤ 28 weeks or birth weight (BW) ≤ 1000 grams. Details of ROP screening, treatment and systemic risk factors were collected.

Results: Study included 54 babies with mean GA of 27.47±1.76 weeks and mean BW of 847.43±189.22 grams. Incidence of any ROP was 87% and TROP was 19.14%. In 60% ROP resolved spontaneously. Use of inotropes and anemia were found to increase the risk for ROP.

Conclusions: Globally, incidence of any ROP in EPT/ELBW babies’ ranges from 25 to 90% and TROP from 4 to 30%. Similar reports from India are lacking. Our results are comparable to these rates and reflects the improvement in postnatal care.