INCIDENCE OF GROSS VISUAL DEFECTS DUE TO RETROLENTAL FIBROPLASIA

[摘要] A study was made of the incidence of gross visual impairment due to retrolental fibroplasia among infants born to residents of New York State, exclusive of New York City, in 1948 and 1949, whose birth certificates indicated birth weights of less than 2000 gm. and who survived to the age of 4 months. Information was obtained regarding 3377 infants or 92.1% of the 3667 in the group described.A total of 50 cases with gross visual defects due to retrolental fibroplasia, or an over-all incidence rate of 1.5%, was found. The incidence rates decreased from 15.9% in the birth weight group under 1000 gm. to 4.3% in 1000-1499 gm. group, and 0.7% in the 1500 to 1999 gm. group. The infants reported to have the shortest period of gestation were found to have the highest incidence, the rate in the group with a period of gestation under seven months being 7.6% as compared with a rate of 0.3% in the group whose gestation period was reported as eight months or more.Although the numbers are small and the measure of gestation as reported on the birth certificate is open to question, the incidence of the condition within each birth weight group was found to be inversely related to the length of gestation. In the 1000-1499 gm. birth weight group, for example, an incidence rate of 7.0% was found among the infants with recorded periods of gestation of less than seven months, as contrasted with a rate of 1.9% among those eight months or more.There was no statistical difference in the incidence of the condition in the group of infants for whom one or more major complications of the mother's pregnancy was reported when compared with the group of infants on whose birth certificates the statement appeared that no such complication occurred. Among infants weighing less than 1500 gm. at birth, a statistically significant variation in the incidence of the condition was found in different regions of the State. The incidence rate, adjusted for differences in weight distribution was found to be 1.7% in males and 1.2% in females. The incidence rate among infants born to mothers under 30 years of age was 1.3%, which is not significantly different from the rate of 1.9% among the infants born to mothers 30 years of age or more.

[学科分类] 儿科学