Abstract
Aims
This study describes the development of a score based on cumulative risk factors for the prediction of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) comparing the performance of the score against the birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) in order to predict the onset of ROP.
Methods
A prospective cohort of preterm infants with BW⩽1500 g and/or GA⩽32 weeks was studied. The score was developed based on BW, GA, proportional weight gain from birth to the 6th week of life, use of oxygen in mechanical ventilation, and need for blood transfusions from birth to the 6th week of life. The score was established after linear regression, considering the impact of each variable on the occurrences of any stage and severe ROP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the best sensitivity and specificity values for the score. All variables were entered into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft) for practical use by ophthalmologists during screening sessions.
Results
The sample included 474 patients. The area under the ROC curve for the score was 0.77 and 0.88 to predict any stage and severe ROP, respectively. These values were significantly higher for the score than for BW (0.71) and GA (0.69) when measured separately.
Conclusions
ROPScore is an excellent index of neonatal risk factors for ROP, which is easy to record and more accurate than BW and GA to predict any stage ROP or severe ROP in preterm infants. The scoring system is simple enough to be routinely used by ophthalmologists during screening examination for detection of ROP.
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Acknowledgements
We acknowledge Wolfgang William Schmidt Aguiar for the important collaboration with statistical expertise in the development of the ROPScore. We certify that the protocol for the research project has been approved by a suitably constituted Ethics Committee of the institution within which the work was undertaken and that it conforms to the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki in 1995 (as revised in Edinburgh 2000).
The Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft) for practical use of the ROPScore during screening sessions and instructions will be displayed in the PROROP website (http://www.prorop.com).
Disclaimer
We certify that the content has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. We also certify that the protocol for the research project has been approved by a suitably constituted Ethics Committee of the institution within which the work was undertaken and that it conforms to the provisions of the Declaration of Helsinki in 1995 (as revised in Edinburgh 2000).
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Eckert, G., Fortes Filho, J., Maia, M. et al. A predictive score for retinopathy of prematurity in very low birth weight preterm infants. Eye 26, 400–406 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.334
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.334
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