Mayda Riaz, Sajjad Rafique, Ammara Hina, Munibah Bashir, Muhammad Tahir Majeed, Sajid Maqbool.
Frequencyand risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm babies at atertiary care hospital in Lahore.
J Fatima Jinnah Med Uni Jan ;13(3):110-5.

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious but preventable morbidity, leading to childhood blindness. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of ROPin preterm babies. Subjectsand methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted at Neonatology Unit, Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore, from July 2017 to February2019. All preterm babies born at Hameed Latif Hospitalgestation, birth weight of <1.5 kg, born at 34-37 weeks of gestation with birth weight of 1.5-2.5 kg having a significant course of illness, were included in the study. Their maternal history was obtained for gestational age, and maternal risk factors. Neonates were monitored and evaluated forclinical course, morbidity andmortality, duringtheirstay at the hospital. These preterm neonateswere screened for ROP by ophthalmologicalexamination at 4-5 weeks of age. Data was analyzed to see the incidence of ROPand univariate and logisticregression analyses were applied to determine association of risk factors with ROP.Results:Twenty eight percent (n=21) of the total screened (n=75)preterm neonates, had developed ROP. Logisticregression analysis showed thatanemia (with Hb<10g/dl or HCT <30%) (p=0.011),fraction of inspired oxygen(FiO2>40% (p=0.018) and birth weight<1.5 kg(p=0.048) were therisk factors associated with development of ROP.Conclusion:Development of protocols and their implementation in neonatal units to save newborns from the identified associated risk factors can help prevent development of ROP leading to childhood blindness.

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