Foredragsholder / Presenter

Navn / Name: Eva Larsson                                            

Institution: Inst för neurovetenskap enheten för oftalmiatrik

Afdeling / Department : Ögonkliniken, Akademiska sjukhuset

E-mail: eva.larsson@ogon.uu.se

Medforfattere / Co-authors:

Navn / Name: Gerd Holmström

Institution: Inst för neurovetenskap enheten för oftalmiatrik

Afdeling / Department: Ögonkliniken, Akademiska sjukhuset

ABSTRACT

Population-based long-term follow-up of prematurely-born children previously screened for ROP.

Eva Larsson and Gerd Holmström. Department of Ophthalmology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.

Aim: To ophthalmologically follow a cohort of prematurely-born children, previously screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to analyze risk factors at an early age that predict for ophthalmological problems at 10 years of age.

Methods: One-hundred and ninety-nine (80%) prematurely-born children, with a birth weight of 1500 grams or less, were included in the long-term follow-up. They were screened for ROP in the neonatal period and thereafter examined at 6 months, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and 10 years of age. “Significant ophthalmological problems” at 10 years of age were defined as visual acuity < 0.8, and/or strabismus and/or subnormal contrast sensitivity. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze risk factors at an early age, which could predict “significant ophthalmological problems” at 10 years of age. Sensitivity and specificity for follow-up criteria were calculated.

Results: Twenty-five percent of the cohort had “significant ophthalmological problems” at 10 years of age. Neurological complications, cryotreated ROP, anisometropia at 2.5 years and astigmatism at 2.5 years were risk factors. The sensitivity was 75.5% and the specificity 80.7% for identification of a child with “significant ophthalmological problems” at 10 years of age if all children with neurological complications, cryotreated ROP, strabismus, anisometropia ≥1 D at 2.5 years and astigmatism ≥2 D at 2.5 years are including in a follow-up programme.

Conclusions: Prematurely-born children are at greater risk for ophthalmological problems in the neonatal period, but also later in life. Children with cryotreated ROP and neurological complications had the highest risk, butalso children without these risk factors had more of ophthalmological problems at 10 years of age than children born at term. Follow-up will be discussed.