EPOS
European Paediatric Ophthalmological Society
Abstract Preview
17 Incidence of concomitant handicaps in children blinded by ROP
Termote, J.1, Schalij-Delfos, N.2, Dutch institutes
for the partially sighted and blind, Cats, B.P.1
Dept of neonatology, UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands, Dept of Ophthalmology,
UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands, Zeist, Rotterdam, Haren, Huizen, Grave,
The Netherlands
Background: In a previous study we demonstrated an increase in concomitant handicaps in children blinded or partially sighted (B/PS) by retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the period 1975-1993.
Aim: To compare the incidence of associated handicaps in children B/PS by ROP in 3 consecutive periods: '75-'86, '87-'93 and '94-2000.
Methods: From all institutes, schools and ambulatory services for the partially sighted and blind in the Netherlands, we retrieved records of infants B/PS by ROP and born between 1994 and 2001. Besides neonatal data we documented whether children suffered from bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), behavioral abnormalities (behavioral abn.), epilepsy, hearing deficit, developmental delay (developm.delay) and distinct neurological handicaps (neurological hand.).
Results: At June 14th 2001 data of 4 of the 5 institutes were retrieved (final results will be presented at the EPOG meeting).
| Period (n) | '75-'86(76) | '87-'93(86) | '94-2000(49) |
| Mean gest.age (wk) | 28.7±2.7* | 27.6±2.5* | 27.5±2.0 |
| Mean birthweight(g) | 1145±312* | 1053±263*° | 939±316° |
| O2 adm. (days) | 42.1±39.5* | 75.9±31.0* | 80.1±66.8 |
| Art. ventil.(days) | 15.0±21.8* | 23.7±31.8* | 24.5±16.3 |
| BPD | 20* | 39* | 24 |
| Behavioral abn. | 7 | 19* | 22* |
| Epilepsy | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| Hearing deficit | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Developm.delay | 27 | 40 | 23 |
| Neurological hand. | 3 | 42 | 22 |
| Multiply hand.(%) | 39.5* | 58.1* | 68.8 |
°p < 0.05
*p < 0.05
Mean gest.age = mean gestational age
Art. ventil. = artificial ventilation
O2 adm. = O2 administration
Multiply hand. = multiply handicapped
Conclusion: From these figures it appears that the incidence of multiply handicapped NICU survivors B/PS by ROP increases through the years and has reached on unacceptable level.