Risk factors in retinopathy of prematurity. a multivariate statistical analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze risk factors in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).


METHODS
Four hundred forty-seven surviving very-low-birth-weight infants (birth weight </=1,500 g) were enrolled in a retrospective study. Clinical data underwent multivariate analysis using stepwise logistic forward regression.


RESULTS
For 402 of the babies a complete dataset of 38 possible risk factors was available. Multivariate analysis showed 10 factors to be independently significant variables. Low birth weight, low gestational age, artificial ventilation for more than 7 days, high volume of blood transfusion and surfactant therapy were risk factors associated with higher rates of ROP. Necrotizing enterocolitis, maternal pre-eclampsia, lung maturation by antepartum betamethasone application, vitamin E and phototherapy were accompanied by a lower incidence of ROP.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms several risk factors recognized by previous statistical analysis. In addition, this study reveals maternal pre-eclampsia, which is associated with chronic intrauterine stress, as a statistically independent factor and as having an influence on the incidence of ROP.
Seiberth
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Department of Ophthalmology, Klinikum Mannheim, Faculty for Clinical Medicine of the University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. Dr.Seiberth@t-online.de
Linderkamp
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O
D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors