A Prospective Cohort Study Comparing Retinopathy of Prematurity between Small for Gestational Age and Appropriate for Gestational Age Babies at a Tertiary Care Centre in Western Maharashtra, India

Introduction: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of preventable blindness in premature infants. Differences in incidence and severity between Small for Gestational Age (SGA) and Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) infants have been variably reported. Aim: To compare the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of ROP between SGA and AGA neonates admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Western Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology at Rajiv Gandhi Medical College and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, Kalwa, Thane, Maharashtra, India, from May 2022 to May 2023. A total of 150 neonates ≤ 34 weeks GA and/or ≤ 2000 g birth weight were enrolled and classified as SGA (n=103) or AGA (n=47) using the Fenton growth chart. ROP screening was performed with the Forus Trinetra Neo fundus camera. Sample size was calculated using Cochran’s formula, and data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26.0, with the Chi-square test, considering p-value