Evaluation of the update on screening for retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary care center in Türkiye with retrospective cohort

Abstrakt

Background/aim: In Turkey, recommendations for screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) have been updated in 2021. Herein, we aimed to present detailed data on the infants included in the screening according to the new criteria and evaluate whether these changes benefit in detecting severe ROP.Materials and Methods: Our hospital's medical records of babies screened for ROP between July 2019 - July 2021 and August 2021 - August 2023 were retrospectively examined. Gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), gender of the babies, whether there was a multiple pregnancy, ROP examination results, the most advanced ROP level and time, and ROP treatment needs and times were recorded. Cohort data from these two time periods were compared before and after the update.Results: Three hundred and fifty-seven babies screened before the guideline update and 336 babies screened after were included. Between August 2021 - 2023, more ROPs were detected (19.3% and 21.4% for both cohorts, respectively), while a lower rate of treatment was required (3.9% and 2.1% for both cohorts, respectively). Since one of the babies treated after the update was included in the screening with the new GA criterion. In both cohorts, no infant needed treatment before 32 weeks of postmenstruel age, regardless of GA at birth agreement.Conclusion: In our study a baby in need of treatment who was not included in screening according to the previous criteria was identified. The data we obtained supports the necessity of increasing the GA upper limit. Additionally, the 31st week seems safe for the beginning of the examination in extremely premature babies.