Demographics and Clinical Patterns of Retinopathy of Prematurity at the University of Teaching Hospitals, Women and Newborn Hospital

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disorder of the developing retina of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. It is an important cause of childhood blindness and is listed as one of the causes of avoidable blindness in the vision 2020 - “The Right to Sight” Programme.

ROP is more prevalent in highly developed countries where neonatal services’ availability, access and outcomes are good. The survival rates of Very low Birth Weight (VLBW) infant and low gestational age (GA) at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Women and Newborn Hospital (WNH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has improved.

Aims: To estimate the prevalence of ROP at UTH, WNH, NICU.

Study Design: Hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Women and Newborn hospital at the University Teaching Hospital, in Lusaka, Zambia between November 2021 to April 2022.

Methodology: We included 110 (54.5% males and 45.5% females) infants either born at <32 weeks GA or weighed <1500g. Dilated fundus examinations were done at 4 to 6 weeks chronological age or 31 to 33 weeks GA. Medical records were reviewed to identify associated factors.

Results: Mean gestational age at birth was 30.6±2 weeks ranging from 27 to 34 weeks, mean birth weight was 1422.7±334.3 g ranging from 900g to 2200 g, mean Apgar score at 1 minute was 7±1.3, at 5 minutes the mean was 7.8±0.9, and at 10 minutes the mean was 8.4±0.7. Twenty-six (23.6%) were products of multiple gestations. Hyaline membrane disease was observed in 14 (12.7%), neonatal sepsis in 48 (43.6%), necrotising enterocolitis in 6 (5.5%), patent ductus arteriosus in one (0.9%), and hyperglycaemia in 56 (50.9%) cases.

Conclusion: Our study found no participant with retinopathy of prematurity at UTH NICU. Further, the study could not make associations between suggested risk factors to the development of ROP. However, being a novel study on this topic in the country, it highlights the importance of setting up screening protocols and their attendant equipment in Special Care Baby Units at UTH and improving neonatal care services.