@article{Tan2026, 
author = {Roland Joseph D. Tan and Rachel R. Milante and Adriel Vincent R. Te and Esther Carmen Arvella G. Ereño and Redentor Caesar G. Gonzales and Jewel Faith Flores-Anotado and Christopher Sebastian J. Uy and Knedrick Kevin Macalma and Jennifer Joy Y. Santos-Rayos and Lorenz Jacob D. Mangahas and Karen R. Cabrera and Lyka R. Agcaoili and Clyde Joshua A. Ecija and Tamilyn Chelsea C. Laddaran and Kristine D. Corpus-Velasquez and Jose Melvin Jimenez Ⅳ and Kyla S. Ilagan and Ian J. Daguman and Xavier Daryl L. Martinez and Almira A. Manzano and Ron Joseph R. Moreno and Gabrielle S. Evangelista and Kanja Drisa Taclobao and Marie Christine T. Marcelo-Tan and Christian Q. Castillo and Manuel Benjamin B. Ibañez Ⅳ and Maijann D. Precia and Patricia S. Tacata and Robert Kelvin Carbonell and Dominico Carlo S. Dator and Jemeson M. Tiburan and Rachelle G. Anzures and Niño Enrico D. Marohom and Lois Agnes E. Lumontod and Margarita E. Quitos and Beltran Alexis A. Aclan and Angeline Therese Y. Uy and Claire Baldovino Barja and Van Alvin Gambalan and Jona May S. Ongkeko and Gabriel L. Villanoy},
title = {Risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity development and progression in the Philippines},
year = {2026},
journal = {International Journal of Ophthalmology},
volume = {19},
number = {8},
pages = {1573-1582},
keywords = {retinopathy of prematurity, epidemiology, Philippines, risk factors, screening, multicenter study},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.18240/ijo.2026.08.16},
doi = {10.18240/ijo.2026.08.16},
abstract = {AIMTo determine the clinico-epidemiologic profile of premature infants diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and treated for type 1, severe, and aggressive (TOSA) ROP in the different regions of the Philippines.METHODSA multiregional ambispective cohort study of premature infants (<37wk gestational age) referred for ROP screening across 20 hospitals in 12 Philippine regions between January 2024 and September 2025 was conducted. Demographic, neonatal, and maternal risk factors were analyzed. Outcomes were compared between National Capital Region (NCR) and non-NCR cohorts.RESULTSOf 2085 referred infants, 1900 premature infants were included. Mean gestational age was 32.34±2.31wk; mean birthweight was 1593±439 g. ROP developed in 483 infants (25%), of whom 177 (37%) progressed to TOSA ROP. Lower gestational age, lower birthweight, male gender, and packed red blood cell transfusion were significantly associated with ROP development, whereas sepsis and oxygen supplementation were not. Among TOSA ROP cases, 87% received treatment, most commonly anti-vasular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection (46%) or laser photocoagulation (24%). At the last follow-up, 34% of treated infants had not reached full regression or retinal maturity. ROP incidence was higher in NCR (32%) than in Region Ⅰ and Cordillera Administrative Region (8%, P=0.001), Region Ⅲ (13%, P=0.005), and Region Ⅺ (14%, P=0.001), but lower than Region Ⅵ (55%, P=0.001).CONCLUSIONLower gestational age and birthweight, male, and packed red blood cell transfusion are risk factors of ROP development. This study also provides the first multiregional multicenter data on ROP in the Philippines, demonstrating substantial incidence and progression beyond NCR.}
}