The characteristics of racial disparity in retinopathy of prematurity outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize racial disparities in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment and to investigate specific treatment patterns across racial groups.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of de-identified data from ROP Check®, a cloud-based electronic medical record system for neonatology screening and ophthalmology tracking ROP examinations and treatment. Data from 28 hospitals from 2011 to 2022 included 3631 surviving premature infants with recorded race.

RESULTS

American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), Asian, and Pacific Islander (PI) infants had the highest rates of ROP treatment at both early (21-25 weeks) and later gestational ages (26-30 weeks) while African American infants had the lowest and most pronounced at later gestational ages (26-30 weeks). AI/AN infants had earlier and more multiple treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identifies PI race, alongside AI/AN and Asian backgrounds, as high-risk categories for treatment-warranted ROP. The inclusion of race to gestational age and birthweight enhances the prediction of treatment-warranted ROP.