Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity in Big Babies

Abstract

Abstract Background Evaluation of babies with gestational age (GA) over 32 weeks and with a birth weight (BW) over 1500 g, who underwent treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Materials and Methods The data of babies with ROP between June 2015 – 2020 were analyzed retrospectively and cross-sectionally. All infants treated for ROP were evaluated. Big babies who were older than 32 weeks GA with a BW higher than 1500 g were determined. Other treated premature infants formed the control group. Results We retrospectively scanned 6581 patients who underwent ROP examination. Of these babies, 109 were treated for ROP. Thirteen babies (12%) who were treated for ROP were born over 32 weeks of GA and above the weight of 1500 g. One big infant was excluded because of missing file data. Eleven of these infants had type 1 ROP and 1 had aggressive posterior ROP. The mean GA and BW of big babies was 33.58 ± 0.88 weeks and 1860.83 ± 257.73 g, respectively. The mean GA and BW of the control group was 27.85 ± 2.02 weeks and 1068.28 ± 313.78 g, respectively. Both the big babies and the control group received oxygen treatment for 15.25 ± 11.44 and 19.17 ± 12.11 days (p = 0.29), respectively. Sepsis was seen in one big infant but 18 infants were observed to have sepsis in the control group. Similarly, one big infant had necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), while in the control group, 12 infants had NEC. Conclusions Total oxygen intake days, NEC, and sepsis rates were found to be relatively lower in big babies with severe ROP. This could suggest that other factors may have a greater effect on the development of severe ROP in big babies.