Incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity from 2 neonatal intensive care units in a Hong Kong Chinese population

Purpose: To determine the incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm Chinese infants. Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for all neonates screened for ROP between January 2007 and December 2012 in Hong Kong. Screening was offered to VLBW (=1500 g) and/or preterm (gestation, =32 weeks) neonates using the Royal College of Ophthalmologists ROP guideline and the International Classification of ROP by 3 pediatric ophthalmologists. Maternal and neonatal covariates were analyzed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses for both ROP and type 1 ROP. Results: Of the 513 screened infants, the mean gestational age (GA) was 30.0 ± 2.5 weeks and the mean birth weight (BW) was 1232.6 ± 325.2 g. The incidence of ROP and type 1 ROP was 18.5% and 3.7%, respectively. In univariate analysis, a lighter BW, lower GA, blood transfusion, patent ductus arteriosus, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, postnatal hypotension, inotropes usage, low Apgar scores, sepsis, mechanical ventilation, supplementary oxygen use, respiratory distress syndrome, anemia, surfactant use, and bronchopulmonary dysplasiawere found to be associated with the development of both ROP and type 1 ROP (P < 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, BW, GA, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significant risk factors for ROP. Preeclampsia and eclampsia were the only protective factors for ROP development on multivariable logistic regression analysis (P = 0.02). Conclusions: In VLBW preterm Chinese infants, lower GA, lighter BW, and intraventricular hemorrhage were significant risk factors for ROP, whereas preeclampsia and eclampsia were protective.