title: Outcome and quality of screening in a nationwide survey on retinopathy of prematurity in The Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Provide insight in natural history, screening and treatment policy of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre, prospective, population-based study (NEDROP) included all preterm infants born in 2009 in The Netherlands fulfilling the inclusion criteria for ROP screening. Anonymised data from ophthalmologists, neonatologists and paediatricians were merged on identification number.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2033 reported infants, 1688 (83%) were screened for ROP. ROP stage was reported in 100%, zone in 94.4% and plus disease in 83%. ROP developed in 324 (19.2%), mild ROP (stage 1-2) in 294 (17.4%), severe ROP (stage 3 or more) in 30 (1.8%) and 17 (1%) were treated. The initial screening examination was not performed within the required 42 days in 641 (38%). Date for follow-up was recorded 1973 times and accomplished within 3 days from the planned date in 1957 (99.2%). The chance of not being screened increased from 12.9% without transfer to another hospital to 23.5, 18.5 and 25% after 1, 2, or 3 transfers, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of severe ROP and infants treated was low. NEDROP emphasises that timing of initial examination and transfer to another hospital are issues of concern within the screening process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Sorge
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J U M
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Termote
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, Southern Holland, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Simonsz
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Maxima Medical Center, Veldhoven, Limburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Kerkhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, North-Holland, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: van Rijn
authors.affiliation: Department for Health Evidence, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W A J G
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Lemmens
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Schalij-Delfos
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000592:standards*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Child health (paediatrics); Epidemiology; Retina