The Incidence Rate of Retinopathy of Prematurity and Related Risk Factors: a Study on premature neonates hospitalized in two hospitals in Sari, Iran, 2014-2015

Background & Aims: Retinopathy OF prematurity (ROP) is a developmental disorder of retinal vessels in premature neonates. In recent years, because of advances in the care of neonates hospitalized in equipped Intensive care units, retinopathy of prematurity has become a major cause of blindness in those who are survived. This study assessed the incidence and severity of retinopathy and related risk factors in premature infants in Bo-Alisina and Emam Khomeini Hospitals in Sari. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted for one year. All neonates hospitalized in NICU and neonatal wards of selected Hospitals with a gestational age less than 30 weeks or gestational age less than 34 weeks with unstable conditions were included for clinical and laboratory studies. Result: The incidence of ROP in 146 studied neonates was 16.4% (24 cases), of which 6 cases were of grade 1, 14 cases of grade 2 and four cases were grade 3. All four cases with grade 3 ROP were recovered with injection of intravitreal avastin or without medical therapy. Sixty six percent of patients with ROP, had a gestational age of less than 30 weeks and all of them had birth weights less than 2000grams. There was statistical correlation between the incidence of ROP and gestational age, birth weight, history of intubation, Intraventricular hemorrhage, PH <7.2, history of high or low blood pressure and fraction of inspired oxygen in newborns. But, no significant relationship was found between duration of oxygen therapy, history of sleep apnea, Resuscitation, sepsis and duration of Phototherapy with ROP. Conclusions: The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in Bo-Alisina and Emam Khomeini Hospitals in Sari was similar to other studies. The most important risk factors were low gestational age and birth weight. Considering the risk of the disease in premature infants, ROP screening is recommended not only for prematures under 30 weeks of gestational age but also in more mature ones who have any risk factor for ROP.