Retinopathy of prematurity: Lack of association with prenatal care

Objectives: The overall goal of this study was td prospectively assess risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in infants of birth weight <1 250 g in an urban population at Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, New Yor k. The hypothesis tested was that lack of prenatal care increases the incid ence of ROP. Methods: A consecutive sample of patients admitted to Bellevue Hospital Center's neonatal intensive care unit/special care nursery who we ighed <1250 g at birth and survived until their ophthalmology screening exa minations were in eluded in the study. The main outcome measures were prese nce or absence of ROP and prenatal care. Additional relevant clinical infor mation was collected on the patients. Results: Ninety infants were evaluate d. Sixty-one (68%) had ROP; 29 (32%) had no ROP. No differences in incidenc e or severity of ROP were detected with regard to prenatal care when the 2 groups were compared. In this population <1250 g, there were no differences in birth weight or gestational age with respect to prenatal care or lack o f prenatal care. Conclusions: Lack of prenatal care was not associated with an increased risk for ROP in infants with birth weight <1250 g in this urb an population.