NEONATAL RISK-FACTORS FOR RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate possible neonatal risk f actors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a population-based grou p of preterm, very low birth weight, infants. Method: The main study g roup included 202 single-born infants with a birth weight of 1500 gram s or less, A group of 57 twins were also described. Selected risk fact ors were extracted from the neonatal records. Results: Univariate anal ysis revealed an association between ROP and respiratory distress synd rome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), septicaemia? intraventri cular bleeding, and the use of ventilator as well as continuous positi ve airway pressure. In a stepwise logistic regression analysis, howeve r, only gestational age at birth, birth weight and BPD were significan tly associated with ROP, Conclusion: Prematurity per se remains the st rongest risk factor for ROP.