Background: The aim of this study was to review the maternal and neonatal risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and the threshold stage of the disease.
Patients and methods: In this prospective cohort study, all preterm infants of less than 1501 g birth weight were screened for ROP between January 1996 and December 1997 at the neonatal unit of the Maternity Hospital in Kuwait. The rate of the threshold stage of ROP, as well as risk factors associated with the disease, were identified.
Results: A total of 234 babies were screened for ROP, of which 151 (64.5%) developed the disease and 34 (14.5%) had the threshold stage of ROP. Several factors were found to be associated with ROP and threshold ROP. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that low birth weight (P<0.002) and exposure to high oxygen concentration (P<0.0001) were independently associated with ROP. In addition, low birth weight (P<0.006), high oxygen concentration (P<0.003), and culture-proven sepsis (P<0.04) were found to be independent predictors of threshold ROP.
Conclusion: Apart from low birth weight and exposure to high oxygen therapy, which are well-documented risk factors of ROP, septicemia was also found to be associated with the threshold stage of ROP.