ROP incidence declined over 10 years in Chinese preterm infants, with no Type 1 cases in larger infants after 2018

This single-center retrospective study analyzed 10-year trends (2014-2023) in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) incidence among 603 premature infants undergoing ROP screening in Sichuan, China. The study compared biennial periods to assess changes in ROP and Type 1 ROP incidence, along with associated clinical factors and screening strategies.

The main results showed overall ROP incidence declined from 22.8% to 16.5% over the study period, representing 116 of 603 infants. Type 1 ROP incidence declined from 5.9% to 4.2%, affecting 31 infants. Notably, no Type 1 ROP occurred in infants with birth weight >1,500 g or gestational age >32 weeks after 2018. Statistical significance measures (p-values, confidence intervals) for these declines were not reported.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported in the study. Key limitations include the single-center, retrospective design and lack of reported statistical testing for observed trends. The study population was limited to one region of China, which may limit generalizability to other settings with different neonatal care practices.

For clinical practice, these findings suggest potential improvements in neonatal care may be associated with declining ROP rates in this specific population. However, the observational nature of the data precludes causal conclusions. The absence of Type 1 ROP in larger, more mature infants after 2018 may inform local screening protocol discussions, but broader validation is needed before changing established screening guidelines.