Abstract :
Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of childhood blindness, with prematurity and low birth weight as major risk factors. The role of multiple gestations in influencing the incidence and severity of ROP, however, remains uncertain.Aims: To find out incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants born as a result of multiple pregnancy vs single pregnancy and to assess the severity of ROP in the both groups.Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study carried out in Ophthalmology department of a tertiary care institute of central India. Total 603 premature babies of gestational age 24 weeks - 37 weeks were screened for ROP of which 96 were from multiple pregnancy and 507 were singletons. Indian guidelines were used in screening and for follow-up of the premature babies. Statistical analysis used: chi-square test and SPSS software.Results: Incidence ROP in multiple birth premature neonates was found to be 31.25% as compared to 14.3% of singletons (statistically significant, p=0.000057). None of the groups shows statistically significant findings in severity of ROP (stage ?3) over the other (p=0.218239).Conclusion: Premature infants born as a result of multiple pregnancy are at a significantly higher risk of ROP than the single born infants. Risk factors like blood transfusion and respiratory distress were found to be statistically significant, leading to ROP in multiple-born vs singletons.
Keyword :
Retinopathy of prematurity, Singleton premature birth, Multiple births.