To Study the Incidence and Risk Factors of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Himachal Pradesh

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease of developing immature blood vessels in the retina of premature neonates. With the recent advances in neonatal care, there has been improvement in rates of survival in premature infants. The factors playing a role in ROP include low gestation...

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Main Authors: Richa Sharma, Rajeev Tuli, Gaurav Sharma, Indu Dhiman, Piyush Gautam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-07-01
Series:Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/DLJO.DLJO_72_24
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Summary:Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease of developing immature blood vessels in the retina of premature neonates. With the recent advances in neonatal care, there has been improvement in rates of survival in premature infants. The factors playing a role in ROP include low gestational age, low birth weight, and increased oxygen supplementation after birth. Aims: To study the incidence and risk factors of ROP in Himachal Pradesh. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Himachal Pradesh for duration of 1 year. One hundred and seventy-one new-born babies were screened with birth weight ≤2000 g and gestational age ≤34 weeks. New-born babies with risk factors referred to us for ROP screening were also included. History was taken from parents/guardians and dilated fundus examination was done. The grading of stages and zones was done. Results: Out of the 171 new-born babies screened, 72 babies (42.11%) had ROP. Out of 72 babies having ROP, the highest percentage of newborns was found to have aggressive ROP (27.8%) followed by Stage 1 (26.4%), Stage 3 (23.6%), Stage 2 (20.8%), and Stage 4a (1.4%), respectively. None of the patient had Stage 4b and Stage 5 ROP. Oxygen exposure, low gestational age, low birth weight, mechanical ventilation, anemia, and respiratory distress syndrome were the factors associated with ROP. Conclusions: ROP is a preventable cause of blindness in childhood. To decrease the burden of this disease, prevention of risk factors, early screening, prompt diagnosis, and early referral for adequate intervention are the only key.
ISSN:0972-0200
2454-2784