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Optimization of retinopathy of prematurity screening in a tertiary neonatal unit in Northern Greece based on 16-year data

Journal of Perinatology volume 42, pages 365–370 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

The optimal modification of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening policy in our unit, by tightening the applicable screening criteria, without missing treatment-requiring ROP (TR-ROP).

Study design

Retrospective analysis of screened infants with gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and/or birth weight (BW) < 1501 g as well as cases beyond these thresholds but with comorbidities (April 2004 to April 2020).

Result

Of 1560 included infants, 18.4% (n = 288) developed any stage of ROP and 3.1% (n = 49) were treated. TR-ROP occurred at a mean (SD) 362/7 (25/7) weeks PMA, and not before a minimum of 323/7 weeks PMA. No treated infant would have been missed if screening criteria were reduced to GA < 30 weeks and/or BW < 1251 g. This modification would have resulted in 826 (52.9%) fewer infants undergoing screening.

Conclusion

Modifying the current screening criteria to GA < 30 weeks and/or BW < 1251 g would have spared over half of the screened infants from unnecessary examinations, without missing TR-ROP.

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Fig. 1: Flowchart of preterm infants included in the analysis.
Fig. 2: Linear regression analysis for change in gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW) of screened infants over time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 2nd Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Stella Moutzouri, Aikaterini K. Seliniotaki, Nikolaos Ziakas & Asimina Mataftsi

  2. Department of Hygiene, Social-Preventive Medicine & Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Anna-Bettina Haidich

  3. 2nd Department of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, “Papageorgiou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christos Tsakalidis & Vasiliki Soubasi

Authors
  1. Stella Moutzouri
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  2. Anna-Bettina Haidich
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  4. Christos Tsakalidis
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  6. Nikolaos Ziakas
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  7. Asimina Mataftsi
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Contributions

All authors took part in the design of the study. SM, AM, AKS, and A-BH wrote the manuscript and the remaining authors gave their feedback and modifications. Statistical analysis was performed by SM and A-BH. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Asimina Mataftsi.

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Moutzouri, S., Haidich, AB., Seliniotaki, A.K. et al. Optimization of retinopathy of prematurity screening in a tertiary neonatal unit in Northern Greece based on 16-year data. J Perinatol 42, 365–370 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01196-2

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