Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in Germany: evaluation of current screening criteria. Issue 2 (28th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larsen, Petra P; Müller, Andreas; Lagrèze, Wolf A; Holz, Frank G; Stahl, Andreas; Krohne, Tim U
• Other Names: author non-byline.; Breuß Helge author non-byline.; Rieckehr Nadja author non-byline.; Engelmann Katrin author non-byline.; Hecker Jacqueline author non-byline.; Gabel-Pfisterer Ameli author non-byline.; Koutsonas Antonios author non-byline.; Walter Peter author non-byline.; Krohne Tim U author non-byline.; Li Jeany Q author non-byline.; Liegl Raffael author non-byline.; Daniel Moritz author non-byline.; Goos Daniela author non-byline.; Lorenz Birgit author non-byline.; Mais Christine author non-byline.; Bemme Sebastian author non-byline.; Feltgen Nicolas author non-byline.; Hoerauf Hans author non-byline.; Bründer Marie-Christine author non-byline.; Stahl Andreas author non-byline.; Knospe Volker author non-byline.; Wagenfeld Lars author non-byline.; Skevas Christos author non-byline.; Spitzer Martin author non-byline.; Pielen Amelie author non-byline.; Eter Nicole author non-byline.; Glitz Barbara author non-byline.; Müller Viktoria C author non-byline.; Barth Teresa author non-byline.; Bartz-Schmidt Karl Ulrich author non-byline.; Süsskind Daniela author non-byline.; Hagemann Ulrike author non-byline.; Aisenbrey Sabine author non-byline.; Macher Thomas author non-byline.;
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 106:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 193
• Publication Date: 2020-09-28
• Subjects: ophthalmology -- neonatology -- epidemiology; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920105
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-319767
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-2998

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate current screening criteria for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) by investigating the incidence of ROP requiring treatment in infants with gestational age (GA) ≥30 weeks or postmenstrual age (PMA) <32 weeks in Germany. Methods: Three patient databases were analysed, that is, the German Quality Assurance Procedure in Neonatology (years 2011–2017; n=52 461 infants screened for ROP, 1505 infants treated for ROP), the German Retina.net ROP Registry (years 2011–2018; n=281 treated infants) and the ROP screening programme of two German university hospitals (years 2012–2016; n=837 screened infants). Results: In the analysed cohorts, infants with GA ≥30 weeks represented 33.1%–38.5% of the screening populations but only 1.40%–1.42% of the cases requiring ROP treatment. In a cohort of 281 infants treated for ROP, all 4 infants with GA ≥30 weeks had additional risk factors for ROP including prolonged oxygen supplementation and/or significant comorbidities. Five infants (1.8%) were treated at 32 weeks PMA and none at PMA <32 weeks. Conclusions: In the investigated cohorts, preterm infants with GA ≥30 weeks carried a very low or no risk for developing treatment-requiring ROP unless additional risk factors were present, and no treatment was performed earlier than 32 weeks PMA. These findings are of relevance for the ongoing re-evaluation of ROP screening criteria. Abstract : This study reviews the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in three large databases from NICUs in Germany. The authors found that while infants > 30 weeks gestation at birth represented over one third of the infants screened for ROP, they represented less than 1.5% of babies needing ROP treatment. Of those treated, all had additional risk factors, suggesting that screening criteria in German NICUs should be re-evaluated.