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Retrospective evaluation of ophthalmological and neurological outcomes for infants born before 24 weeks gestational age in a Swedish cohort

Hellström, Ann LU ; Jacobson, Lena ; Al-Hawasi, Abbas ; Hellström-Westas, Lena LU ; Rakow, Alexander ; Johnson, Mats ; Sävman, Karin ; Holmstrom, Gerd ; Larsson, Eva and Gränse, Lotta LU orcid , et al. (2022) In BMJ Open 12(8).
Abstract

Objectives To retrospectively evaluate ophthalmological and neurological outcomes in a Swedish cohort of infants born before 24 weeks gestational age (GA) and explore risk factors for visual impairment. Setting Eye and paediatric clinics in Sweden. Participants Infants screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (n=399), born before 24 weeks GA, 2007-2018. Cases were excluded if ophthalmological follow-up records could not be traced. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes were ophthalmological, including visual acuity (VA), refractive error, strabismus, nystagmus and cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Secondary outcomes comprised neonatal and neurological morbidities. Data were retrospectively retrieved from medical... (More)

Objectives To retrospectively evaluate ophthalmological and neurological outcomes in a Swedish cohort of infants born before 24 weeks gestational age (GA) and explore risk factors for visual impairment. Setting Eye and paediatric clinics in Sweden. Participants Infants screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (n=399), born before 24 weeks GA, 2007-2018. Cases were excluded if ophthalmological follow-up records could not be traced. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes were ophthalmological, including visual acuity (VA), refractive error, strabismus, nystagmus and cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Secondary outcomes comprised neonatal and neurological morbidities. Data were retrospectively retrieved from medical records. Results The 355 assessed children had a median GA of 23 weeks and 2 days and a median birth weight of 565 g. At the last available ophthalmological examination, the median age was 4.8 years (range 0.5-13.2 years). Nystagmus was recorded in 21.1%, strabismus in 34.8%, and 51.0% wore spectacles. Seventy-three of 333 (21.9%) were visually impaired, defined as being referred to a low vision clinic and/or having a VA less than 20/60 at 3.5 years of age or older. ROP treatment was a significant risk factor for visual impairment (OR 2.244, p=0.003). Visually impaired children, compared with children without visual impairment, more often had neurological deficits such as intellectual disability 63.8% versus 33.3% (p<0.001), epilepsy 21.1% versus 7.5% (p=0.001) and autism spectrum disorders 32.8% versus 20.9% (p=0.043). Nine of the 355 children had been diagnosed with CVI. Conclusions Children born before 24 weeks GA frequently had visual impairment in association with neurological deficits. CVI was rarely diagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation and habilitation of these vulnerable infants is warranted. National follow-up guidelines need to be developed and implemented.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
developmental neurology & neurodisability, paediatric ophthalmology, paediatrics
in
BMJ Open
volume
12
issue
8
article number
055567
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • scopus:85135500025
  • pmid:35922112
ISSN
2044-6055
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055567
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8056ddce-4b63-46a7-b83d-f8c1dee7835c
date added to LUP
2022-11-29 14:17:10
date last changed
2024-04-14 17:46:14
@article{8056ddce-4b63-46a7-b83d-f8c1dee7835c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives To retrospectively evaluate ophthalmological and neurological outcomes in a Swedish cohort of infants born before 24 weeks gestational age (GA) and explore risk factors for visual impairment. Setting Eye and paediatric clinics in Sweden. Participants Infants screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (n=399), born before 24 weeks GA, 2007-2018. Cases were excluded if ophthalmological follow-up records could not be traced. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes were ophthalmological, including visual acuity (VA), refractive error, strabismus, nystagmus and cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Secondary outcomes comprised neonatal and neurological morbidities. Data were retrospectively retrieved from medical records. Results The 355 assessed children had a median GA of 23 weeks and 2 days and a median birth weight of 565 g. At the last available ophthalmological examination, the median age was 4.8 years (range 0.5-13.2 years). Nystagmus was recorded in 21.1%, strabismus in 34.8%, and 51.0% wore spectacles. Seventy-three of 333 (21.9%) were visually impaired, defined as being referred to a low vision clinic and/or having a VA less than 20/60 at 3.5 years of age or older. ROP treatment was a significant risk factor for visual impairment (OR 2.244, p=0.003). Visually impaired children, compared with children without visual impairment, more often had neurological deficits such as intellectual disability 63.8% versus 33.3% (p&lt;0.001), epilepsy 21.1% versus 7.5% (p=0.001) and autism spectrum disorders 32.8% versus 20.9% (p=0.043). Nine of the 355 children had been diagnosed with CVI. Conclusions Children born before 24 weeks GA frequently had visual impairment in association with neurological deficits. CVI was rarely diagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation and habilitation of these vulnerable infants is warranted. National follow-up guidelines need to be developed and implemented.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hellström, Ann and Jacobson, Lena and Al-Hawasi, Abbas and Hellström-Westas, Lena and Rakow, Alexander and Johnson, Mats and Sävman, Karin and Holmstrom, Gerd and Larsson, Eva and Gränse, Lotta and Saric, Marie and Sunnqvist, Birgitta and Smith, Lois and Hård, Anna Lena and Morsing, Eva and Lundgren, Pia}},
  issn         = {{2044-6055}},
  keywords     = {{developmental neurology & neurodisability; paediatric ophthalmology; paediatrics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{8}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{BMJ Open}},
  title        = {{Retrospective evaluation of ophthalmological and neurological outcomes for infants born before 24 weeks gestational age in a Swedish cohort}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055567}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055567}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}