Postnatal corticosteroids and risk of retinopathy of prematurity

PurposeTo investigate the association between postnatal steroids and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in neonates born with birth weights at the limit of viability (<500 g).MethodsData from the Pediatrix BabySteps Clinical Warehouse were retrospectively reviewed. The study population consisted of 1,472 neonates with birth weights of <500 g who were discharged alive from 167 NICUs between 1996 and 2013. Statistical significance for unadjusted comparisons between groups was determined using the χ2 or t test. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds of ROP.ResultsIn multivariate analysis, the odds of any ROP for steroid treated infants was 1.6 (95% CI, 1.2-2.2) compared to nontreated infants; the odds of advanced ROP was 1.7 (95% CI, 1.3-2.3).ConclusionsIn our large study cohort of critically low birth weight infants ROP was more common in neonates exposed to postnatal steroids.