Differences in risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity development in paired twins: a Chinese population study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the differences in risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in paired twins.


METHODS
A retrospective medical record review was performed for all paired twins screened for ROP between 2007 and 2012. Screening was offered to very low birth weight (≤ 1500 grams) and preterm (≤ 32 weeks) neonates. Twins 1 and 2 were categorized based on the order of delivery. Maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses for both ROP and Type 1 ROP.


RESULTS
In 34 pairs of Chinese twins, the mean gestational age (GA) was 30.2 ± 2.0 weeks. In Twin 1, smaller GA (OR = 0.44, P = 0.02), higher mean oxygen concentration (OR = 1.34, P = 0.03), presence of thrombocytopenia (OR = 1429.60, P < 0.0001), and intraventricular hemorrhage (OR = 18.67, P = 0.03) were significant risk factors for ROP. For Twin 2, a smaller GA (OR = 0.45, P = 0.03) was the only risk factor. There were no significant risk factors for ROP in Twin 1 or Twin 2 on multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
In Chinese twin pairs, smaller GA was the only common risk factor for ROP while Twin 1 was more susceptible to the postnatal risks for ROP.
Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Gordon S K
0000-0002-0337-7183
GS
Yau
Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Jacky W Y
0000-0001-6249-3304
JW
Lee
Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Victor T Y
0000-0002-4670-6653
VT
Tam
Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Stan
0000-0003-3370-6694
S
Yip
Centre of Health Behaviours Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Edith
E
Cheng
Department of Applied Mathematics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Catherine C L
CC
Liu
Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Benjamin C Y
BC
Chu
Department of Ophthalmology, Caritas Medical Centre, 111 Wing Hong Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Can Y F
CY
Yuen
D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics*