title: The incidence of visual impairment due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and concomitant disabilities in the Netherlands: a 30 year overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of visual impairment (VI) caused by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and concomitant disabilities in preterm neonates born between 2000 and 2009 in the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were retrieved from the Dutch institutes for the visually impaired. They were compared with similar Dutch studies conducted in 1975-1987, 1986-1994 and 1994-2000.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Records of 42 infants with VI due to ROP were included. A gradual decrease of gestational age and birthweight but an increase of duration of artificial ventilation, supplemental oxygen administration, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, developmental delay and behavioural abnormalities was found. Compared with the previous study (1994-2000), significantly fewer children were visually impaired due to ROP (1.84 per 100,000 live births/year vs 3.93 per 100,000 live births/year, p=0.000), the incidence of complete blindness decreased from 27.5% to 7.1% (p < 0.05) and more children were treated (66.7% vs 56.9%, NS). The incidence of concomitant disabilities was high and did not differ greatly from the previous study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was a retrospective study showing a significant decrease in VI due to ROP in the Netherlands. Changes in neonatal care practices did not result in a decrease in the incidence of concomitant disabilities. More children were treated for ROP, but 33% were not treated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands. a.j.van_sorge@lumc.nl
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Sorge
authors.forename: J U M
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Termote
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Boonstra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stellingwerf
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Schalij-Delfos
mesh_terms: D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014792:Visual Acuity