Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Premature Infants with a Birth Weight less than 2,000 grams in Phichit Hospital

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the current incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants with birth weight less than 2,000 grams in Phichit Hospital. All premature infants with birth weight less than 2,000 grams in Phichit Hospital who was born in the period between October 2004 to September 2007 were enrolled.  Retrospective Collection of data was done to find the incidence. The sex, birth weight, gestational age, oxygen therapy and systemic illness were recorded. The diagnosis and Classification of ROP were done according to the International  Classification of Retinopathy of Premrturity (1984). Seventy four infants (29 male, 45 female) were included in the study.  The incidence of ROP in this study was 14.9% (10 of 74). All of 11 cases with ROP had birth weight of 1,500 grams or less. Four of 11 ROP cases developed  threshold disease. The maximum gestational age of ROP case was 32 weeks. By univariate analysis, birth weight of 1,500 grams or less, gestational age of 28 weeks or less and associated systemic illness were found to associated with development of ROP, whereas the presence of oxygen therapy was not. The above results suggested that infants which birth weight 1,500 grams or less have a high risk of developing ROP. The ROP screening criteria using the birth weight of 1,500 grams or less is appropriate for the infants in Phichit Hospital.