Long use of continuous positive airway pressure protects against the development of treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity

Abstract

Abstract Although preterm infant mortality is low, the proportion of patients with treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (TR-ROP) is high in Japan. Various multicenter studies have reported the risk factors for TR-ROP; however, no large-scale studies have been conducted in Japan. We retrospectively analyzed 13,645 infants born at 14 days (aOR 1.28), and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy ≥ 28 days (aOR 0.79). Supplemental oxygen ≥ 28 days was not associated with TR-ROP development. Lower gestational age at birth and birth weight, blood transfusion, prolonged invasive ventilation, sepsis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and delayed achievement of full enteral feeding were risk factors for TR-ROP, whereas CPAP use was protective against TR-ROP.