title: Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a large tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in Turkey: frequency and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine applicable guidelines for screening of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and evaluate the contribution of risk factors for severe ROP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort study of neonates with a gestational age (GA) < 34 weeks or birth weight < 2000g who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a tertiary level hospital was conducted. The study group was classified into three groups according to eye examination findings as no ROP, mild ROP and severe ROP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 700 neonates screened, the frequencies of ROP for any stage and severe ROP were 32.7% and 3.1%, respectively. Laser photocoagulation was needed in 9.6% of neonates with ROP. None of the neonates with a GA ≥ 31 weeks required treatment. Any ROP was detected in 199 (53.6%) of the babies < 32 weeks (n = 371), 22 (5.9%) of whom were treated with laser photocoagulation. Independent risk factors for severe ROP in babies < 32 weeks GA were birth weight, duration of mechanical ventilation and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the largest prospective cohort study including infants younger than 34 weeks GA from Turkey. Our data which belongs to the last 1-year period shows lower incidence of severe ROP when compared to previous reports from Turkey. According to our data, screening babies smaller than 32 weeks GA or 1500g birth weight seems reasonable. In the presence of long duration of mechanical ventilation and PDA, screening should be intensified.
authors: Department of Neonatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. unalsarikabadayi@yahoo.com
authors: Yusuf Unal
authors: YU
authors: Sarikabadayi
authors: Ozge
authors: O
authors: Aydemir
authors: Zuhal Tunay
authors: ZT
authors: Ozen
authors: Cumhur
authors: C
authors: Aydemir
authors: Levent
authors: L
authors: Tok
authors: Serife Suna
authors: SS
authors: Oguz
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Erdeve
authors: Nurdan
authors: N
authors: Uras
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Dilmen
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey