This study, promoted by the "Turkish Neonatology Society", involved preterm infants who
are being screened for ROP between August 1,2023 and August 1, 2024 in level III/IV
Turkish NICUs.
An electronic questionnaire is being filled by certified neonatologists in Turkey via a
special network. Neonatologists working in 94 centers who agreed to participate in this
study provide their data regarding the ROP in their NICU. The medical records of retinal
examinations of preterm infants who met the screening criteria will be evaluated.
A case report form for each patient will be filled including risk factors for the
development of ROP such as gestational age, birth weight, small for gestational age
(SGA), gender, multiple gestation, antenatal steroid therapy, invitro fertilization,
preeclampsia/eclampsia, infants of diabetic mother, chorioamnionitis, resuscitation in
delivery room, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), duration of mechanical ventilation
and oxygen therapy, intracranial hemorrhage, hemodynamically significant patent ductus
arteriosus (PDA), early/late sepsis, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), number of blood
transfusions, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), time to full enteral feeding, percentage
of own mothers milk.
Risk factors for developing ROP will be evaluated. Multivariate analysis will be
performed among significant variables. In addition, the incidence of any ROP, severe ROP
in relation to GA and BW and treatment modalities will be determined.
Severe ROP is defined as ROP requiring treatment. Since Turkey is receiving many refugees
in recent years, the investigators also planned to evaluate the incidence and risk
factors for developing ROP in preterm babies of refugees.
Ophthalmologic examination is continued until full vascularisation. So, the maximum stage
of ROP detected for every infant will be reported. Data from 94 NICUs will be pooled
together and analyzed.
The "International Classification of ROP" guidelines (ICROP-3) are used to record the
stage of disease, location by zone, signs of plus disease and signs of
regression/reactivation/persistent avascular retina.
Criteria for treatment of ROP are based on the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of
Prematurity (ETROP) recommendation.
Confirmed forms are also assigned by the parents before the initial screening and
treatment.