Incidence and main risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity in infants weighing less than 1000 grams in Brazil

• Published in: Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) Vol. 59; no. 6; p. 502
• Main Authors: Fortes Filho, João Borges, Borges Fortes, Bárbara Gastal, Tartarella, Marcia Beatriz, Procianoy, Renato Soibelmann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.12.2013
• Subjects: Birth Weight; Brazil - epidemiology; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; Infant, Newborn; Logistic Models; Male; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Prospective Studies; Retinopathy of Prematurity - epidemiology; Retinopathy of Prematurity - etiology; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; Tertiary Care Centers; Urban Population; Brazil; risk factors; prematurity; blindness; incidence; prevention; retinopathy of prematurity
• ISSN: 1465-3664
• DOI: 10.1093/tropej/fmt036

This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors for severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in babies <1000 g at Porto Alegre, Brazil. Prospective cohort study including premature children with birth weight ≤1000 g was conducted. Main outcome was the occurrence of severe ROP needing treatment. A total of 157 infants were included. Severe ROP occurred in 20 infants (12.7%). Nineteen patients were treated by laser photocoagulation. Main risk factors for severe ROP were gestational age (P = 0.029), infant's weight measured at sixth week of life (P < 0.001) and number of days of oxygen therapy under mechanical ventilation (P < 0.001). After logistic regression, infant's weight at sixth week of life and number of days in mechanical ventilation were associated to severe ROP. We reported the incidence of 12.7% of severe ROP among babies born ≤ 1000 g in our institution. Laser photocoagulation was effective to stabilize the disease among 19 treated patients.