Prevalence of Retinopathy of Prematurity among Newborn Infants Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Retinopathy ROP of prematurity is an important cause of visual impairment among preterm infants, especially those admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). In Egypt, ROP was reported to have high prevalence, with estimates as high as 45.2% among infants with stage 1 or more, and 5.6% of cases categorized as high-risk ROP, thus underscoring the need for screening and timely intervention. This work aimed to prevent Retinopathy of prematurity progression to retinal detachment and loss of vision by early diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 212 infants between November 2023 and December 2024 who admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, they were screened for ROP between 31- and 37-weeks. Results: Among the 212 examined infants, 54 (25.47%) developed ROP. Of these, 26 infants (48.15%) had stage 1, 12 (22.22%) had stage 2, and 6 (11.11%) had stage 3. Additionally, 10 infants (18.52%) developed aggressive ROP (A-ROP), 9 infants (16.67%) had zone 1 affection, 17 (31.5%) were affected in zone 2, and 28 (51.85%) in zone 3. Most cases resolved spontaneously with close monitoring, while 10 infants (18.52%) required bilateral intravitreal anti-VEGF injections, with only one case necessitating a repeat injection. Conclusion: The prevalence of ROP among newborn infants admitted to the NICU in Zagazig, Sharqia Governorate is comparable to that reported in other Egyptian governorates but remains higher than in developed countries.