Prevalence & risk factor analysis for Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Tribal Based Secondary Care Teaching Hospital Adilabad (Telangana), India

Dr Vinay kumar; Dr Suryakant Mundlod

Volume : VI, Issue : XI, November - 2016

Prevalence & risk factor analysis for Retinopathy of Prematurity in a Tribal Based Secondary Care Teaching Hospital Adilabad (Telangana), India

Dr Vinay Kumar, Dr Suryakant Mundlod

Abstract :

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasingly being recognised as one of the major preventable cause of childhood blindness globally. ROP mainly affects children with low birth weight and prematurity who are mainly exposed to longer duration of oxygen therapy.. The present study was designed to assess the magnitude of the problem of ROP in a tribal based medical college and hospital in Adilabad,a district in the state of Telangana. Materials and Methods: Babies with less than 1800 grams of birth weight with known risk factors for ROP were included in the study. The included babies were screened for ROP within 3–5 weeks of birth or gestational age below 32 weeks whichever was earlier. Follow up examinations were done according to the grade of ROP. In severe ROP (Grade 3, 4) the eyes were examined every week and in mild ROP (Grade 1, 2) every 2?4 weeks until the resolution of ROP (retinal maturation). Results and Analysis: Incidence of ROP in the present study population was 31.64%. Analysis of risk factors showed statistically signiåcant relation with birth weight, gestational age and use of oxygen as signiåcant factors . Conclusion: The incidence of ROP was found to be comparatively high. This emphasizes the need for regular screening in secondary care centres and peripheral hospitals. All babies with history of birth asphyxia, neonatal convulsions, septicaemia requiring prolonged oxygen administration should undergo ROP screening irrespective of their gestational age.