Eugene Yu-Chuan Kang1,2, Kuang-Hung Hsu3,4, Shih-Ming Chu2,5, Reyin Lien2,5, Nan-Kai Wang1,2,6, Chi-Chun Lai1,2, Kuan-Jen Chen1,2, Yih-Shiou Hwang1,2, Ciao-Ming Lin3, Wei-Chi Wu1,2. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 2. College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 3. Laboratory for Epidemiology, Department of Health Care Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 4. Department of Emergency Medicine, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 5. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Linkou Medical Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; and. 6. Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To understand the epidemiology of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 11,180 premature patients with a length of stay >28 days who survived during hospitalization. The incidence of the first ROP treatment was analyzed. RESULTS: Among ROP patients (n = 4,096), 6.5% (n = 265) received treatment. The most frequently performed treatment was laser administration (n = 199), followed by intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection (n = 38), scleral buckle or pars plana vitrectomy (n = 14), and cryotherapy (n = 14). The incidence of ROP requiring treatment increased during the study period, as did the use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Shifts in the treatment modality from cryotherapy and scleral buckle/pars plana vitrectomy to laser treatment after 2003 and from laser treatment to intravitreal anti-VEGF injection after 2010 were observed. CONCLUSION: In Taiwan, the incidence of the use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection for treating ROP increased between 2002 and 2011. Laser treatment was less frequently used than intravitreal anti-VEGF injection in 2011.
PURPOSE: To understand the epidemiology of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) requiring treatment in Taiwan from 2002 to 2011. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study enrolled 11,180 premature patients with a length of stay >28 days who survived during hospitalization. The incidence of the first ROP treatment was analyzed. RESULTS: Among ROPpatients (n = 4,096), 6.5% (n = 265) received treatment. The most frequently performed treatment was laser administration (n = 199), followed by intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection (n = 38), scleral buckle or pars plana vitrectomy (n = 14), and cryotherapy (n = 14). The incidence of ROP requiring treatment increased during the study period, as did the use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. Shifts in the treatment modality from cryotherapy and scleral buckle/pars plana vitrectomy to laser treatment after 2003 and from laser treatment to intravitreal anti-VEGF injection after 2010 were observed. CONCLUSION: In Taiwan, the incidence of the use of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection for treating ROP increased between 2002 and 2011. Laser treatment was less frequently used than intravitreal anti-VEGF injection in 2011.