title: A new risk-based screening criterion for treatment-demanding retinopathy of prematurity in Denmark.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to uncover the most effective and safe criterion to implement for retinopathy of prematurity screening in Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective national cohort study is based on data from 3 national registers. These registers provided on infants treated for retinopathy of prematurity, infants in need of treatment but missed by the present screening program, and the candidate neonates for advanced retinopathy of prematurity development A nonlinear logistic regression model was fitted to the data, and various screening criteria were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period (2002-2006), 116 infants were treated for retinopathy of prematurity, no treatment-demanding retinopathy of prematurity infants were missed by the screening program, and 182 premature infants were candidates for developing treatment-demanding retinopathy of prematurity. Screening criteria combining gestational age at delivery and birth weight limits and new risk-based criteria were compared with regards to their effectiveness. The risk-based criteria were the most effective. Use of the 0.13% risk-based criterion to define the population to be screened resulted in the detection of all treated infants in the study period and 17.4% fewer infants to screen. The model predicted this criterion to result in 1 missed case of treatment-demanding retinopathy of prematurity every 11 years and 1 case of blindness every 18 years in Denmark.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening criteria based on risk estimates of developing treatment-demanding retinopathy of prematurity are the most effective for retinopathy-of-prematurity screening. The risk-based criterion of 0.13% can safely be implemented for future retinopathy-of-prematurity screening in Denmark.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Glostrup Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark. carinaslidsborg@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Slidsborg
authors.forename: Julie Lyng
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Steen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Kamilla Rothe
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Nissen
authors.forename: Peter Koch
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Regitze
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bangsgaard
authors.forename: Hans Callø
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fledelius
authors.forename: Gorm
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greisen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: la Cour
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index