Trends in the Epidemiology of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Northwest China: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study from a Single Center (2015–2024)
By
Jing Yang
Le Zhang
July 21, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Trends in the Epidemiology of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Northwest China: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study from a Single Center (2015–2024)
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Key Mechanisms Retinal vasoproliferative disease affecting premature infants. Target Population Infants with gestational age <32 weeks and/or birth weight <2000 grams. Care Setting Single center retrospective cohort study.
Key Highlights
Overall ROP incidence rate was 14.18%, with a treatment-requiring rate of 1.59%. Incidence rates decreased with advancing gestational age: 72.37% for GA <28 weeks, 23.04% for GA 28–<32 weeks, and 6.17% for GA ≥32 weeks. Annual screening volume, ROP incidence, and treatment demand showed fluctuating upward trends over the decade. Current screening practices appear insufficient, indicating a need for a risk-based strategy. Intensive screening is necessary for infants with GA <28 weeks. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Infants with GA <32 weeks and/or BW <2000 grams should be screened for ROP. Management
Treatment for Type 1 ROP and aggressive posterior ROP (AP-ROP) includes intravitreal ranibizumab. Monitoring & Follow-up
Infants should be followed until retinal vascularization or a postmenstrual age of 45 weeks. Risks
Under-screening may lead to missed diagnoses and delayed treatment. Patient & Prescribing Data
Infants screened at Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital from 2015 to 2024.
Most cases treated with intravitreal ranibizumab; few required laser treatment.
Clinical Best Practices
Establish dedicated preterm infant screening clinics with specialized staff. Maintain comprehensive electronic medical records for each infant undergoing ROP screening. Related Resources & Content
