Demographic profile of infants with stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity in North India: implications for screening

Abstract

Purpose: To study demographic profile of infants presenting as stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at a tertiary referral center of North India.

Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive infants with stage 5 ROP from 1999-2008. Various parameters retrieved included the inborn (born at level III nursery of our institute) /outborn (born outside study center) status, birth weight, gestational age, age at presentation, screening details,treatment details and reasons for consultation.

Results: Sixty -six infants are included. All infants were outborn (born outside study center). Mean birth weight was 1250.23 ± 486.45 g and gestational age at birth was 28.5 ± 2.2 weeks. Ten (15.1%) infants were above 1500 g birth weight. Median age at presentation was 7 month (range, 2-84 months). Fifty-seven (86.4 %) infants were never screened for ROP and 2(3%) were lost to follow-up after single screening. Seven (10.6%) infants had screening and treatment. Forty-nine (74.2%) infants were self-referred (i.e brought by parents on their own) and 17(25.8%) were referred by ophthalmologists. Pediatricians referred none of the infants.

Conclusion: Our study shows that lack of screening is responsible for stage 5 ROP in outborn infants. More needs to be done to spread awareness about the disease. Broader screening guidelines are needed to ensure screening for infants>1500 g birth weight.