The treatment and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in neonatal intensive care units

BackgroundRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vascular proliferative disorder of the developing retina and a significant cause of childhood blindness around the world. The incidence of ROP is affected by many factors, and the incidence rate varies from country to country. The purpose of this study is to report the incidence and risk factors of ROP in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Guangzhou First People's Hospital in China.MethodsA retrospective review was performed on 436 premature infants who were consecutive ROP screened in the NICU of Guangzhou First People's Hospital from March 2013 to October 2017. The single-factor analysis and the logistic multivariate regression analysis were used to detect risk factors of ROP.ResultsTotal 436 premature infants were consecutive ROP screened, 138 (31.65%) were found ROP, and 61(13.99%) were treated. The single-factor analysis revealed that the incidence of ROP was associated with multiple births, gestational age, birth weight, mechanical ventilation, intravascular hemolysis, the number of operations and blood culture results. The logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed that gestational age; birth weight, mechanical ventilation, minimum SaO2 and daily weight gain were independent risk factors for ROP onset. Forty-nine patients underwent retinal laser photocoagulation with recurrence 20 patients. Twelve patients underwent anti-VEGF drug (Ranibizumab) via intraocular injection with 5 patients of recurrence.ConclusionsThe incidence of ROP in NICU of Guangzhou China will match those in middle-income countries, but higher than high-income countries. Anti-VEGF drugs could be preferred as a good treatment method for zone 1 ROP and aggressive posterior ROP.