title: Retinopathy of prematurity in Saudi Arabia: incidence, risk factors, and the applicability of current screening criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the risk factors for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) and the applicability of the current ROP screening criteria in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of ROP incidence was conducted in patients of a neonatal intensive care unit in Riyadh from July 2003 until July 2004. Infants born at <36 weeks of gestation, and/or weighing <2000 g at birth, had their charts reviewed for ROP diagnosis and risk factors for ROP. The sensitivity and specificity of current screening criteria were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seventy-four infants were examined. Retinopathy of prematurity was diagnosed in 93 infants (56%); 15% of those patients were in stage 3 of the disease (severe ROP). The mean gestational age (GA) was 30 weeks for the ROP-positive group. At </=32 weeks' gestational age and </=1500 g birth weight, the sensitivity of the current screening criteria was 68%, and the specificity was 55%. The most significant independent risk factor for the development of ROP was gestational age at birth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found an older mean GA in infants developing ROP; it is recommended that the current screening criteria be widened to include 34-week GA infants into the programme. A tighter control on oxygen therapy is also recommended.
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Medical City, PO Box 21078, Riyadh 11475, Saudi Arabia. afaf@alkhathlan.com
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Binkhathlan
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Almahmoud
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srungeri
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index