Results of screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a large nursery in Kuwait: Incidence and risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to report the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and severe ROP and identify the risk factors for their development in a large nursery in Kuwait.


METHODS
This was a retrospective, interventional, non-comparative, hospital-based study. Retrospective review of ROP records of premature babies having either birth weight of less than 1501 g or gestational age at birth of 34 weeks or less and born between January 2001 and August 2003.


METHODS
By univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Out of the 599 babies studied, 38.9% developed ROP and 7.8% needed treatment for severe ROP. Multivariate analysis showed low birth weight (OR 13.753, 95% CI 3.66-51.54; ( P < 0.001), gestational age (OR 13.75, 95% CI 3.66-51.54; P < 0.001), surfactant (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.04-2.83; P = 0.032) and stay in the intensive care unit for longer than 15 days (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.05-4.85; P = 0.033) to be significant for the development of any ROP. Low birth weight (OR 22.86, 95% CI 3.86-134.82; P = 0.001), bacterial sepsis (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.51-7.05; P = 0.002) and need for surfactant (OR 4.41, 95% CI 0.94 -20.56; P = 0.059) were found to be the risk factors for severe ROP needing laser treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of both any ROP and ROP needing treatment are comparable to other studies. Low birth weight is the most important risk factor for both any ROP and severe ROP.
Wani
Vivek B
VB
Al Bahar Ophthalmology Center, Kuwait city, Kuwait.
Kumar
Niranjan
N
Sabti
Khalid
K
Raizada
Seemant
S
Rashwan
Nabeel
N
Shukkur
Mumtaz M
MM
Harbi
Mohammed
M
D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors