title: Retinopathy of prematurity: a new epidemic?
abstract: This study provides the first empiric evidence for the existence of a new epidemic of retinopathy of prematurity-induced blindness. Data from a population-based register of handicapping conditions in the Canadian province of British Columbia, and a birth weight-specific census of live-born infants in British Columbia, were used to determine annual, population-level incidences of retinopathy of prematurity-induced blindness during 1952 to 1983. Changes in incidence since the end of the original epidemic (1954) were determined by subdividing the 29-year period (1955 to 1983) into two intervals (1955 to 1964 and 1965 to 1983). Standardized incidence ratio analyses revealed a marginally significant increase in the overall incidence of retinopathy of prematurity-induced blindness in the later as compared with the earlier period. Infants weighing 750 to 999 g at birth had a significantly increased standardized incidence ratio of 3.07 (95% confidence interval 1.26, 11.06). No increases in risk were observed in heavier or lighter weight infants. Because ascertainment and diagnostic changes do not explain the weight-specific increases in incidence, these results provide the first population-level evidence for a new epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sheps
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Schechter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: A Q
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: McCormick
mesh_terms: D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001955:British Columbia; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects; D012042:Registries; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen