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  • Title: Barriers to screening infants for retinopathy of prematurity after discharge or transfer from a neonatal intensive care unit.
    Author: Attar MA, Gates MR, Iatrow AM, Lang SW, Bratton SL.
    Journal: J Perinatol; 2005 Jan; 25(1):36-40. PubMed ID: 15496873.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To assess neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) practices affecting screening and follow-up for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). METHODS: Retrospective study of infants at risk for ROP, eligible for back transport, admitted to a regional NICU from January 1, 1999 until May 31, 2002. Patients failed to receive needed follow-up for ROP after discharge or transfer from a NICU, if we could not verify their ROP screening follow-up within 1 month. RESULTS: A total of 74 infants were identified to need follow-up eye care. Infants who did not receive the follow-up care had greater mean gestational age (mean SD; 30.7+/-2.3 vs 29.6+/-2.5 weeks, p=0.05) and birth weights (mean SD; 1581+/-366 vs 1360+/-508 g, p=0.007), compared to infants who received the recommended care. Infants transported back to the community hospital were significantly more likely to miss follow-up eye care compared to infants discharged from the regional center (relative risk 2.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.09 to 7.20)). Infants not screened for ROP in the NICU had greater risk for missing follow-up care compared to infants who had their first retinal examination in the NICU (relative risk 4.25, 95% CI (1.42 to 12.73)). CONCLUSIONS: Infants transferred back or discharged from the NICU before ROP screening represent a high-risk group for not receiving follow-up eye care.
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