Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey over a 10-year period

Abstract

PURPOSE To report the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in babies with a birth weight of <= 1750 g over a 10-year period in the north of Turkey. METHODS The medical records of 2,365 preterm babies who had been referred for ophthalmological examination were retrospectively reviewed, and children with a birth weight of 51750 g were included. The incidence of ROP was compared between two successive 5-year periods: 2004-2008 and 2009-2013. RESULTS A total of 1,565 babies were included: 624 in the first period and 941 in the second. The incidence of ROP significantly increased during the second period compared to the first (35.3% vs 48.2% [P < 0.001]). The number of patients who required treatment was 11.9% in the first period and 11.4% in the second (P = 0.768). CONCLUSIONS Although the incidence of ROP increased during the latter period of study (2009-2013), the numbers of treatment-requiring cases were similar in both periods.