Acute proliferative retrolental fibroplasia: multivariate risk analysis

Abstract

This study has presented a two-way analysis of a data set consisting of demographic, diagnostic, and therapeutic variables against the risk of occurrence of APRLF and its location in the retina in a population of 639 infants in birthweights ranging from 600 to 1500 gm. Univariate and multivariate risk analysis techniques were employed to analyze the data. As established from previous studies, birthweight was a powerful predictor of the outcome variable. Oxygen therapy as defined and quantified in this study was not. Duration of ventilatory assistance did seem associated. The population was not uniform. Infants below 1000 gm birthweight had such a high incidence of APRLF that no other exogenous risk factors seemed of significance. Above 1000 gm birthweight, certain factors, particularly duration of ventilation, seemed of predictive strength and significance.