Severe retinopathy of prematurity in infants <30 weeks' gestation in New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) from 1992-2002
- David A Todd (david.todd{at}act.gov.au)
- Published Online First 24 January 2007
Abstract
Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) significantly increased in New South Wales (NSW) from 1986 to 1994, but more recent data suggests that there has now been a decrease.
Objective: To study the incidence and treatment of severe ROP (Stage ≥ 3) in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) from 1992 to 2002.
Methods: Data collected prospectively from the Neonatal Intensive Care Units' (NICUS) Data Collection over an 11 year period in infants <30 weeks' gestation were divided into 4 epochs and analysed retrospectively. The incidence and treatment of severe ROP were compared for gestational ages ≤24 weeks', 25-26 weeks' and 27- 29 weeks' gestation over the 4 epochs.
Results: In infants ≤24 weeks' gestation the incidence of severe ROP and those treated increased significantly (Stage ≥ 3; 17 [41.5%] to 41 [53.9%], p=0.052 and treated: 8 [19.5%] to 25 [32.9%], p<0.05 [1st and 4th epoch]). In infants 25-26 weeks' gestation the incidence of severe ROP decreased significantly while there was a non-significant increase in those treated (Stage ≥ 3; 55 [26.2%] to 46 [19.3%], p<0.05 and treated: 19 [9.0%] to 32 [13.4%], p=ns). In infants 27-29 weeks' gestation, there was no significant change in the incidence of severe ROP or those treated (Stage & [ge] 3; 30 [4.1%] to 17 [2.4%], p=ns and treated: 14 [1.9%] to 8 [1.1%], p=ns).
Conclusion: In infants ≤24 weeks' gestation has there been a significant increase in severe ROP, while treatment for severe ROP increased in infants <27 weeks' gestation.
