Baby weight gain parameters as predictive factors for progression of retinopathy of prematurity

Introduction

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is vascular disorder of immature retina which is a significant contributor for worldwide childhood blindness.1, 2 With advancement in perinatal care, chances of survival of preterm babies have significantly improved, but so has the incidence of this condition. 3 This put additional burden on screening programs that traditionally rely on two major factors; (1) Gestational age (2) Birth weight.

Socio-economic status of population at risk has an impact on incidence of ROP. In developed countries, ROP occurs almost exclusively among most premature infants and the incidence of ROP is considerably lower than in developing countries. On the other hand, in developing countries like India the average birth weight and gestational age vary considerably, with very broad ranges. 4

In literature, new screening models have come up suggesting that poor postnatal weight gain can be a good predictor of ROP. Premature birth is associated with depleted plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor (IGF1). Low circulating levels of this anabolic hormone and poor weight gain have been linked to the development of ROP and other diseases.5, 6 Postnatal weight gain can thus serve as a surrogate marker of IGF1 levels.7 Some studies have reported correlation between severity of ROP and poor post natal weight gain by 4-6 weeks.

We have conducted this study to evaluate whether post-natal weight gain pattern can be a predictor of severe ROP in Indian population.

Aim

Materials and Methods

In our hospital all neonates who met the criteria for screening guidelines for Retinopathy of prematurity were screened for ROP 1 and their weight was recorded during the follow ups. Among the screened babies, those who developed any stage of ROP were included in our study. They were followed up weekly or two weekly depending upon the clinical findings. Those who progressed to Type I ROP (ETROP) 1 were given treatment.

Postnatal weight parameters recorded were:

These factors evaluated in each case to find out their relationship in progression of ROP.

Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 software. Numerical variables were presented using mean and standard deviation. Independent sample t test was used to study the statistical significance of the comparison of all numerical risk factors between groups in the case of normality and Mann Whitney test in the case of non-normality. ROC curve was used to find an ideal cut-off for weight and relative weight gain with respect to severe ROP. Diagnostic measures such as sensitivity, specificity, PVP, PVN and Accuracy were calculated. A p value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant

Results

Of the 698 babies screened for ROP, 94 babies developed any stage of ROP and enrolled in the study. Among the 94 babies with Retinopathy of prematurity who were included in the study for analysis, 21 (22.3 %) babies progressed into Type I ROP (ETROP) and 73 (77.7%) regressed spontaneously without any treatment (Type II).

Our study group population consisted of 54 (57.4%) boy babies and 40 (42.6%) girl babies and the gestational age ranged from 23 weeks to 36 weeks with a mean of 29.34 (±2.76). Birth weight in all studied newborns ranged from 370 grams to 2270 grams, with a mean of 1063.29 grams (±354.02).

In our study incidence of ROP was found to be 13.4% among all the screened neonates (n=698) from which 10.4% resolved spontaneously and 3 % progressed to severe ROP.

Patients with ROP requiring treatment had significantly lower birth weight of 909.29 gm (±210.88, p=0.011) and gestational age of 27.29 (±2.41) weeks, p<0.001) compared with those spontaneously resolved. (Table 1)

Absolute weight measurements in severe ROP babies was 821.19 (± 204.14) at 2 weeks, 963.19 (± 239.85) at 4 weeks, 1179.3 (± 335.72) at 6 weeks. These were significantly low when compared with mild ROP babies (Table 2)

Weight gain at 2, 4, and 6 weeks were also calculated and we found weight gain at 4 weeks (p=0.006) and 6 weeks (p=0.016) had statistically significant difference between mild and severe ROP babies.(Table 2)

Weight gain proportion in relation with birth weight also calculated for 2, 4, and 6 weeks and at 4 weeks it showed a statistically significant (p=0.025) difference between those who resolved spontaneously and those who underwent treatment.(Table 2)

Relative weight gain in gm/kg/day was again calculated for these babies at 2,4 and 6 weeks and at 4 weeks it was very low among treated babies with a significant statistical difference .(p=0.025) (Table 2)

Figure 1

Comparison of relative weight gain at 2,4 and 6 weeks among two groups

Receiver operating curve analysis was done with relative weight gain (gm/kg/day) and the area under the curve for relative weight gain at 4 weeks was 0.661 (95% confidence interval: 0.515-0.808, p=0.025). We selected a cut - off of 2.80 gm/kg/day weight gain to predict severe ROP and we found that 83.3 % of babies with a relative weight gain more than 2.8 gm/kg/day resolved spontaneously without taking any treatment while only 59.1% of babies with relative weight gain less than 2.8gm/kg/day resolved spontaneously and this was statistically significant with a p value of 0.17 and the Odds ratio corresponding to this was 0.321(Table 3).

Receiver operating curve analysis for weight at 4 and 6 weeks were done. Area under the curve was maximum for weight at 4 weeks (0.761, 95% confidence interval 0.651-0.871, p=0.000 and at 6 weeks it was 0.730 (95% CI 0.651-0.618, p = 0.01). So a cut off weight of 1010 gm at 4 weeks predict ROP progression to treatment requiring stage and we found only 6% of babies with a weight more than 1010gms at 4 weeks progressed to severe ROP while 39.5% of babies less than1010 gms progressed to severe/ treatment requiring ROP. This was statistically significant with a p value 0.001 and the Odds ratio corresponding to this was 0.184 (Table 3).

At 6 weeks we took the cut off value as 1302 gm to predict severity of ROP, and 86.8% of babies with a weight more than1302 gms at the end of 6 weeks of postnatal life resolved spontaneously without taking any treatment and only 65.9% of babies with weight <less than 1302gms resolved spontaneously. This was statistically significant with p value 0.016 and the Odds ratio corresponding to this was 0.293 (Table 3).

Discussion

Incidence of ROP varies widely depending on the population screened for ROP and ranges from 29% to 68% in developed country and 38-51% in India and incidence of ROP in our study was 13.4%.

Incidence of spontaneous regression of ROP was 86.6% in all babies screened. Among the babies with ROP included in our study 77.7% resolved spontaneously without any treatment. This was comparable with other studies. 2, 3

Gestational age and Birth weight were associated with the increased severity of ROP with a statistical significant p value.

Our study on 94 babies with ROP showed that in addition to birth weight, the postnatal weight gain pattern was different for babies with severe ROP and mild ROP and could be used as predictive factor for development of severe ROP. Several studies have looked into these parameters separately but we have analysed all the postnatal weight gain parameters to formulate a possible prediction model for severe ROP.

Wallace et al4 in a multiple regression model showed that poor postnatal weight gain in the first six weeks of life is an independent risk factor for stage 3 or more ROP. Our study measured weight at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of postnatal life and we found weight gain at the end of 4 weeks and 6 weeks was very low in severe ROP babies, and was statistically significant.

Allegaert et al5 in 2003 in a prospective case control study concluded that small for GA preterm newborns and those with intrauterine growth restriction had an increased risk of developing ROP threshold disease. Absolute weight gain at 2 weeks and 6 weeks were significant in their studies. In contrast, the relative WG (grams/kg/day) was not significantly different in the group with ROP and in the control group. Our study calculated relative weight gain (gm/kg/day) for 2, 4 and 6 weeks and was found to be low at 4 weeks in babies who were treated and this showed a significant statistical result. Also, the absolute weight gain at 4 and 6 weeks was significantly different in the two groups in our study and statistically significant

Filho et al 6 through a prospective cohort study in 2008 showed that weight gain proportion lower than 51.2% according to the ROC curve, was an independent risk factor for severe ROP development. Weight gain proportion at 4 weeks was low in our severe ROP group and was statistically significant whereas at 6 weeks it was low in severe ROP babies, but was not significant statistically.

The comparison of these studies with our study is shown in Table 4.

We tried to get a cutoff predictive value for weight gain below which a baby would be high risk for severe ROP. Ayedimir et al7 in 2011 in a prospective study analyzed the relative weight gain in ROP babies and revealed a cut off of 9.1g/kg/day weight gain in the first 4 weeks of life using ROC analysis. We found a cut off in our population as a weight gain less than at least 2.80 gm/kg/day by 4 weeks of postnatal life to have more chance of developing into severe or treatment requiring ROP, with a sensitivity and specificity of 61.6% and 61.9% respectively using ROC analysis.

Thus, the weight gain pattern over the first 6 weeks in a baby is a very good indicator of the severity of ROP the baby develops later. We can see this clearly in these graphs. This is the weight gain pattern of a baby with severe ROP comparing the mean birth weight of 909 gms with the expected weight gain of a preterm baby with almost the same birth weight.8

Figure 2

Graph showing Weight gain in the first 6 weeks of life in infants with severe ROP compared with expected weight gain of a preterm baby with almost same birth weight.

Here we can clearly see the poor weight gain of the severe ROP baby with mean birth weight of 909 gm when compared with the actual weight gain required for a preterm baby of same birth weight. In the initial 2 weeks there is a drop in weight but later the weight gain is increasing, but does not meet the required rate. On the other hand, the weight gain pattern over the first 6 weeks in a baby with mild ROP was recorded by comparing the mean birth weight of 1107 gms with the expected weight gain of a preterm baby with almost the same birth weight. 8

Figure 3

Graph showing weight gain in the first 6 weeks of life in infants with mild ROP compared with expected weight gain of a preterm baby with almost same birth weight.

Here we can see the babies with mild ROP shows low weight gain but maintains a parallel relation with expected growth rate, with uniform increase in weight over 6 weeks.

Conclusion

The main aim of our study was to find out the relationship of postnatal weight gain to the progression of ROP.

The incidence of ROP was found to be 13.4 % among all the screened neonates (n=698) from which 10.4% resolved spontaneously and 3 % progressed to severe ROP.

Birth weight and Gestational age was found to be very low in severe ROP babies demonstrating a statistical significance.

Other antenatal and postnatal factors that were studied didn’t show a statistical significance.

From our study we found that postnatal weight gain measured at 2 weekly intervals was significantly low in severe ROP babies.

Analysing the postnatal weight gain parameters we were able to find a cut off value above which, if the baby fails to attain, may results in progression into Type I or treatment requiring ROP.

That is, if the baby has a relative weight gain less than 2.80 gm/kg/day by 4 weeks they have more chance of developing severe or treatment requiring ROP.

Also if the baby has not attained a weight of at least 1010 gm by 4 weeks, they have high chance of progressing into severe ROP.

From this study we conclude that the postnatal weight gain is a significant risk factor for the development of severe ROP. This simple measurement can be used as a non-invasive tool for the Ophthalmologist and Neonatologist to predict the progression of ROP.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no potential conflicts of interest for the authorship and publication of the article.