Abstract
Purpose :
To understand the epidemiology in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011.
Methods :
Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Methods:
Setting: A referral medical center in Taiwan
Study Population: 11 180 premature patients with a length of stay > 28 days and who survived during hospitalization.
Observation Procedure: Data retrieval from the National Health Insurance Research Database.
Main Outcome Measures: Incidence of ROP treatments, including the use of laser treatment, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection, scleral buckle or pars plana vitrectomy (SB/PPV) and cryotherapy, from 2002 to 2011.
Results :
Among the patients with ROP (n = 4096), 6.5% (n = 265) of them received treatment. The most frequently performed treatment was laser treatment (n = 202 [4.9%]), followed by intravitreal anti-VEGF injection (n = 49 [1.2%]), SB/PPV (n = 39 [0.95%]), and cryotherapy (n = 14 [0.34%]). The incidence of ROP requiring treatment increased during the period (P < 0.001), and so did the use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection (P = 0.02). Shift of treatment modality from laser treatment to intravitreal anti-VEGF injection was observed. Risk factors of ROP requiring treatment included male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36, P = 0.025), birth weight < 1250g (all P < 0.05), respiratory distress syndrome (OR = 1.47, P = 0.013), and patent ductus arteriosus (OR =1.55, P = 0.003).
Conclusions :
In Taiwan, the incidence of use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection for treating ROP increased between 2002 and 2010. Laser treatment was less frequently used than intravitreal anti-VEGF injection after 2010. Male sex, BW < 1250g, respiratory distress syndrome, and patent ductus arteriosus were independent risk factors of ROP requiring treatment.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.