Abstract
Purpose :
To use The Retinopathy of prematurity information system (ROPIS) as a tool for research and surveillance of neonatal care quality in 8 public hospitals in Peru.
Methods :
This is a retrospective descriptive observational study. The web-based ROPIS application developed by Instituto Damos Vision (IDV) was used to collect and analyze ROP related data for at risk ROP infants. The system can be used to enter both neonatal and ophthalmic patient information. ROPIS integrated computers were installed in neonatology units at 7 national hospitals (Level III) and 1 level II hospital. Entered into the ROPIS, and included in this study, were all neonates with gestational age (GA) equal or less than 36 weeks, birth weight (BW) less than 2000g, and those whom survived until the ROP screening was completed. The higher ROP severity was considered for both eyes.
Results :
A total of 1211 newborns were registered in the ROPIS between January 2017 to December 2018. The prevalence of ROP at any stage was 12.77% (154 infants). stage 3 ROP was most frequent, with 47.40% (73) of infants with ROP. According to GA the highest percentage of ROP was found in the 28 to 31week group with 44.16% (n:68) of infants. According to the BW, the most affected group weighed between 1000 to 1499 g with 50% (77) of infants. Treatment was performed in 51.3% (79 infants). Of the 79 infants treated, the majority had stage 3 plus ROP, with 79.75% (63) of infants and GA of 27 or less weeks 43.04%, (34 infants), followed by the 28 to 31 week group 39.24%, (n=31). By BW, the most affected group weighed between 750 to 999g with 43.04% (34) of infants
Conclusions :
The ROPIS allowed all 8 public sector hospitals to report on key characteristics of infants with ROP, including frequency, birthweight, gestational age and stage of ROP. Information collected from the ROPIS could potentially provide Neonatal Intensive Care Units and ophthalmology departments with evidence needed to improve treatment guidelines, patient counseling and infrastructure conditions, as well as monitoring care to reduce the incidence of blindness due to ROP. As Peru lacks a national information system for ROP, this standardized registry could be adopted nationally in order to create care guidelines and treatment protocols.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.