Prevalence and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants at a Brazilian tertiary hospital: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants at a tertiary hospital in Central-West Brazil.

METHODS

This retrospective, observational cohort study analyzed the medical records of neonates with a gestational age (GA) ≤ 32 weeks and/or birth weight ≤ 1,500 g assisted between March 2022 and February 2024. Statistical analyses included the Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test, followed by multivariable logistic regression with Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) penalization.

RESULTS

Among the 208 eligible preterm infants included in the study, 40 developed ROP, corresponding to a prevalence of 19.2%, where stage 2 was the most frequent, 17 (42.5%). Treatment was required in 25% of ROP cases, with no progression to stages 4-5. ROP was more frequent among extremely preterm infants and those with extremely low birth weight (p < 0.001). In the adjusted analysis, extreme prematurity and female sex were independently associated with ROP, whereas jaundice was inversely associated with the outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Extreme prematurity and female sex were independently associated with ROP in this cohort of preterm infants, whereas jaundice showed an inverse association with the outcome. These findings reinforce the multifactorial nature of ROP and the importance of continuous surveillance in high-risk preterm newborns.