Incidence of Retinopathy of Prematurity Monitored in a Hospital Follow-up Service in Western Paraná

Abstract

Premature Retinopathy (ROP), a neurovascular disease that develops in the eyes of premature newborns, is the leading cause of preventable childhood blindness in Latin America, with prematurity (<37 weeks) being the primary risk factor, along with low birth weight (<1500g). Fetal retinal development begins around the 16th week of gestation and is completed between the 36th and 40th weeks of gestation. Objective: To evaluate the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in premature newborns by investigating their gestational age and birth weight, analyzing the most prevalent comorbidities, and assessing any sex predominance. Methods: A retrospective and longitudinal analytical study was conducted, analyzing medical records of patients diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity from January 2020 to May 1, 2024. All data were collected exclusively from medical records, with no direct patient contact, covering all premature newborns during the specified period. Results: The hospital recorded 942 premature newborn hospitalizations in the NICU, of which 7 patients (0.74%) were included in the study sample. Among these ROP patients, 42.86% had a gestational age (GA) less than 30 weeks and a weight below 1,500g, while 57.14% had a GA between 31 and 37 weeks and a weight between 1,501 and 2,000g. The majority of patients were female (85.71%). Based on ROP classification, 42.86% of cases were in Zone 2 avascular and 57.14% were in Zone 3. Additionally, 71.43% of patients exhibited respiratory distress. Conclusion: The data confirms that extreme prematurity and low birth weight are significant risks for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The sex discrepancy should be further investigated. The prevalence of a low Apgar score indicates compromised conditions at birth and underscores the need for more complete documentation. The analysis highlights the importance of rigorous monitoring and early intervention strategies to improve outcomes in premature newborns.