Evaluation of retinopathy of prematurity incidence with telemedicine confirmation in Gansu, China: a pilot study

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To determine the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Gansu, China by combining bedside examinations with remote RetCam (Clarity Medical Systems, Pleasanton, CA, USA) diagnosis.

Methods: ROP screening via indirect ophthalmoscopy followed by RetCam imaging was performed from 2014 to 2015. Three ROP-experienced ophthalmologists interpreted images remotely. Incidence of ROP was determined by combining bedside and telemedicine diagnoses.

Results: Of 139 examined infants and 137 complete records, 20 (14.6%) patients developed ROP, with 11 (8.0%) stage 1, six (4.4%) stage 2, and three (2.2%) stage 3 based on combined diagnoses. Perinatal asphyxia was significantly associated with ROP incidence (p = 0.01). ROP incidence by combined diagnosis (20/137 or 14.6%) versus clinician diagnosis alone (21/137 or 15.3%, p = 0.50) was similar. Telemedicine changed diagnoses in 4/21 (19.0%) ROP cases.

Conclusions: Telemedicine may be helpful in confirming ROP incidence and may serve as a training and support model for less experienced and professionally isolated ROP examiners.

Keywords:

• Retinopathy of prematurity
• telemedicine
• RetCam
• incidence

Disclosure statement

None of the authors have any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission

Funding

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to Departments of Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Washington, but the sponsor had no involvement in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data, writing the report, or decision to submit the report for publication.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to Departments of Ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Washington, but the sponsor had no involvement in study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of data, writing the report, or decision to submit the report for publication.