The evaluation of risk factors in role of premature retinopathy

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most important problems of the premature infants. Across the world, it is accepted as a leading cause of preventable blindness. Hence, ROP is a kind of disease whose screening is vital. In developing countries and least developed countries, ROP remains as a serious problem. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence ROP and the risk factors of ROP. Between February 2011 and March 2018, files of babies who were born before 32 weeks gestation were screened retrospectively in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Gaziosmanpaşa University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. The birth weights of babies, gestational weeks, other demographic characteristics and the diseases observed in the newborn period and maternal factors were recorded. The association between these characteristics and ROP were examined. The study is carried out with the participation of 193 premature infants. Of these infants, 96 (%49,7) were female and 97 (%50,8) were male. While 10 (%5,3) of the participants were born before 29 weeks, the other 183 (%94,7) babies were between 29 and 32 weeks. On the other hand, while the birth weight of 17 (%8,9) babies was below 1000 grams, the birth weight of 88 babies (%45,5) was within the range of 1000 and 1500 grams, and 88 of them (%45,5) were over 1500 grams. While 61 (%34,6) of the patients diagnosed with ROP, 11 (%18,1) of them received ROP treatment. Four of the patients with ROP were found as plus disease. It is observed that as the birth weight and gestational age decreased, the incidence and severity of ROP increased. There was no relation between the type of birth, gender, smoking in pregnancy, parity and Apgar scores at first and fifth minutes, and the incidence and severity of ROP. In-vitro fertilization and multiple pregnancy didn't change the incidence of ROP, however it increased the severity of ROP. It was shown that the frequency and severity of ROP increased in infants who had neonatal resusitation, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intracranial hemorrhage and blood transfusion. Furthermore, the incidence and severity of ROP were detected to be increasing as the number of days of oxygen supplementation and the time to achieve full enteral feeding. Hyperglycemia was another factor that increased ROP frequency. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, birth weight, week of birth and number of days of oxygen therapy were found to be independent risk factors. In conclusion, risk factors should be recognized and preventive and therapeutic measures should be taken immediately to prevent risk factors. We are of the opinion that in this way frequency of ROP disease can be reduced. Key words: Prematurity retinopathy, risk factors, maternal, neonatal