Retinopathy of prematurity: frequency and risk factors in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.
BACKGROUND
To determine the frequency of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in the premature infants born in a tertiary care hospital and to determine the risk factors associated with it.


METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis of premature infants with birth weight < or = 1500 grams or gestational ago < or = 32 weeks, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital in a three year period. The infants underwent eye examinations between their 4th and 7th week of life. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to determine the association between risk factors and ROP development.


RESULTS
Sixty eight infants were included in the analysis. Out of these, 22 (32.4%) developed ROP (inclusive of all stages) and 14 (20.6%) developed threshold disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that low gestational age, sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome were independent predictors for the development of ROP.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of ROP in our hospital was on the higher side of the range reported in neighbouring developing countries. Low gestational age, sepsis and respiratory distress syndrome were independent predictors of ROP development. Our results suggest that ROP is an important emerging cause of preventable childhood blindness in urban areas of Pakistan like Karachi.
Taqui
Ather M
AM
Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Syed
Reema
R
Chaudhry
Tanveer A
TA
Ahmad
Khabir
K
Salat
Muhammad S
MS
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors