SCRUTINIZING THE CURRENT RISK FACTORS OF RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY IN NEWBORN BABIES

Abstract

Background & Methods: To find the trend of current risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in newborn babies, so that preventive and curative measures can be undertaken to avert the progression of complications, leading to blindness. This is an observational study which included 70 newborn babies who are sick or preterm admitted at NICU, SNCU, and presenting to our tertiary eye care center for the duration of 2 months. All the premature babies with risk factors of ROP or diagnosed for the same, whose guardians gave consent for the examination was included in this study. Babies with gestation less than 28 weeks or birth weight less than 1200 grams were screened by 2-3 weeks’ time and with gestation 28-34 weeks or birth weight less than 2000 grams were screened not later than 4 weeks, according to NFF guidelines. Instrument used was indirect ophthalmoscope with 20D lens for examination of fundus on every visit with pediatric eye speculum, mydriatic eye drops. Findings of the examination were recorded on a ROP chart noting the stages. The ROP chart contained patient’s name, gender, gestational age, birth weight and other risk factors such as prolonged oxygen exposure, IUGR, respiratory distress, twins, sepsis, anemia, blood transfusion, phototherapy, ABO in compatibility and with unstable clinical course .
Results: 70 newborn babies were screened for ROP and the incidence of ROP in this study was 28.5%. The mean birth weight of the ROP babies was 1356 gm, and the mean gestational age of the ROP was 31 weeks. On multivariate analysis, risk factors predisposing to ROP (P<0.05) were Sepsis, long term oxygen exposure, respiratory distress syndrome, multiple births and IUGR.
Conclusion: The babies with premature birth, low birth weight proved to be with most common risk but sepsis being the immerging trend currently along with long term oxygen exposure, RDS, IUGR thus should be monitored early with meticulous care to curb the
progression of blindness. Also the occurrence of ROP is trending towards a rise including newborns with higher birth weight and gestational age in developing countries; hence necessitating to use different guideline for Screening of Newborns in these developing
countries.