Evaluation of Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Born Infants in Tertiary Care Centre in Punjab

Background: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a disease where development of abnormal retinal vessels occurs because of incomplete vascularization of the retinal tissue. With advancement in the field of neonatology now more premature babies and Very-Low-Birth-Weight (VLBW) infants surviving and incidence of retinopathy of prematurity is increasing. ROP screening should be done in all premature babies. Objectives: To Study the Risk Factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Born infants at tertiary care centre. Methods: This study was done on 75 newborns infants and were included in study after satisfying the inclusion criteria. The following criteria were studied: gestational age≤34 weeks or BW≤1500 grams, along with neonates with more birth weight and higher gestational age having risk factors like : low Apgar score, duration of oxygen supplementation more than 10 days, sepsis, more than one blood transfusion, respiratory distress. Characteristics of newborns including risk factors, and pattern of severe ROP were assessed from Punjab region of India. Result: Total of 75 newborns included in the study, 53 were males (70.66%) and 22 were (29.33%) females. The analysis of gestational age showed that the mean age was 29.9±2.9 weeks, the youngest one was of 27 weeks and the oldest was 37 weeks of gestation. The average birth weight was 1350±510 grams, with lowest 675 gm and highest 3100 grams. Conclusion: The most common risk factors that are associated with development of ROP revealed gestational age, Apgar score in the first minute, birth weight, duration of oxygen therapy and the blood transfusion.