Changes in the Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants in South China From 2004 to 2018

Abstract

Purpose: To report the changes in incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants over a 15-year period in South China.

Methods: The medical records of ELBW infants were retrospectively reviewed through established database of Shenzhen Screening for ROP Cooperative Group. The incidence and severity of ROP were compared among three successive 5-year periods (P1: 2004-2008, P2: 2009-2013, P3: 2014-2018). Gestational age, birth weight, plurality, mode of delivery and gender were analyzed as risk factors for ROP in ELBW infants.

Results: Among the 1099 included ELBW infants, 557 (50.7%) had ROP, and 328 (29.9%) had severe ROP. The highest incidence of ROP (87.5%) and severe ROP (82.5%) were seen in P1. From P2 to P3, the incidence of ROP and severe ROP increased from 45.9% to 50.3% for ROP (P < .05) and from 26.4% to 28.3% for severe ROP (P < .05), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found only gestational age has a significant effect on the incidence of ROP and severe ROP.

Conclusions: From 2004 to 2018, the incidence of ROP and severe ROP in ELBW infants in South China was 50.7% and 29.9%, respectively. Controlling for the other risk factors, only gestational age was statistically associated with ROP in ELBW infants.

Keywords: Extremely low birth weight infants; incidence; retinopathy of prematurity; risk factors.