Influence of maternal factors on retinopathy of prematurity: A cross-sectional Study from a tertiary care centre

Abstract

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious condition affecting premature infants and identifying maternal risk factors is essential for its prevention. This study aimed to identify maternal risk factors associated with ROP in preterm newborns at a tertiary care center.This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2021 and September 2022 at a tertiary care center. All preterm and low birth weight neonates attending the ROP clinic or admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were included, while term neonates and those weighing ≥2.5 kgs with anterior segment/posterior segment pathology other than ROP were excluded. Data on maternal and neonatal characteristics were obtained and inferential analysis was conducted using the chi-square test and Student’s t-test.Out of 410 preterm newborns included, 109 were diagnosed with ROP, indicating an institutional incidence of 26.58%. Advanced maternal age, low socio-economic status, urinary tract infection, chorioamnionitis, multiple pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, maternal anemia, history of asthma and steroid use during pregnancy were significantly associated with ROP.This study highlights the importance of addressing modifiable maternal risk factors to reduce the incidence of ROP in premature infants. Screening for ROP should be prioritized for neonates born to mothers with these risk factors to improve visual outcomes.