Scholarlink

Background <p>Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an avoidable cause of childhood blindness. Effective ROP screening enables the detection of cases requiring treatment, but the frequency of ROP varies in units across South Africa (SA). Recent evidence suggests that a high proportion of infants in SA do not complete screening. A comparison of ROP prevalence and completeness of screening in units within the same region has yet to be described.</p> Methods <p>A prospective study of infants screened for ROP at five units was conducted between 1 February 2023 and 30 April 2024 in Cape Town, SA. Data were extracted for infants with birth weight &lt;1250 grams or gestational age &lt;32 weeks from the Retinopathy of Prematurity South African (ROPSA) register.</p> Results <p>Screening was initiated in 933 infants and completed in 468 (50.2%). Completeness of screening varied in the units from 36.8% to 74.6%. The prevalence of ROP among infants who started screening (16.1%–71.2%), completed screening (13.1%–64.3%), and those incompletely screened (25.0%–79.2%) also varied in the units. Among those diagnosed with ROP (<i>n</i> = 315), 179 (56.8%) had incomplete screening, including 30 (<i>n</i> = 51, 58.8%) infants with stage 3 ROP.</p> Conclusion <p>Completeness of screening and ROP prevalence varied widely in the units. Of concern is the high proportion of infants with ROP, including stage 3 ROP, who do not complete screening. Measures to increase completeness of screening are needed to improve the detection of cases requiring treatment. The ROPSA register will allow these improvements to be monitored over time.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Variations in prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and completeness of screening in five units within a South African region: a register-based study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月17日

查看全文
  • Tshilidzi Van der Lecq,
  • Gerd Holmström,
  • Esmè Jordaan,
  • Phumza Nongena,
  • Natasha Rhoda,
  • Rudzani Muloiwa,
  • Tshilidzi van der Lecq,
  • Gerd Holmström,
  • Natasha Rhoda,
  • Rudzani Muloiwa,
  • Esmè Jordaan,
  • Linda Visser,
  • Nicola Freeman,
  • Teboho Seobi,
  • Lloyd Tooke,
  • Shakti Pillay,
  • Michael Harrison,
  • Nicole Meiring,
  • Phumza Nongena,
  • Jaco Murray,
  • Adriaan Daniels,
  • Helga Abrahamse-Pillay,
  • Gugulabatembunamahlubi Kali,
  • Adrie Bekker,
  • Miemie Du Preez,
  • Alexander Geragotellis,
  • Neeran Reddy

摘要

Background

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an avoidable cause of childhood blindness. Effective ROP screening enables the detection of cases requiring treatment, but the frequency of ROP varies in units across South Africa (SA). Recent evidence suggests that a high proportion of infants in SA do not complete screening. A comparison of ROP prevalence and completeness of screening in units within the same region has yet to be described.

Methods

A prospective study of infants screened for ROP at five units was conducted between 1 February 2023 and 30 April 2024 in Cape Town, SA. Data were extracted for infants with birth weight <1250 grams or gestational age <32 weeks from the Retinopathy of Prematurity South African (ROPSA) register.

Results

Screening was initiated in 933 infants and completed in 468 (50.2%). Completeness of screening varied in the units from 36.8% to 74.6%. The prevalence of ROP among infants who started screening (16.1%–71.2%), completed screening (13.1%–64.3%), and those incompletely screened (25.0%–79.2%) also varied in the units. Among those diagnosed with ROP (n = 315), 179 (56.8%) had incomplete screening, including 30 (n = 51, 58.8%) infants with stage 3 ROP.

Conclusion

Completeness of screening and ROP prevalence varied widely in the units. Of concern is the high proportion of infants with ROP, including stage 3 ROP, who do not complete screening. Measures to increase completeness of screening are needed to improve the detection of cases requiring treatment. The ROPSA register will allow these improvements to be monitored over time.