The effect of sex on retinopathy of prematurity severity among premature mixed-sex multiple gestation infants

This retrospective study of 68 premature infants examined whether there was a difference between male and female mixed-sex multiple gestation infants with regards to stage of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) developed or need for ROP treatment. We found that among mixed-sex twin infants there was no statistically significant difference between sexes in most severe ROP stage developed or need for ROP treatment, but males were treated at an earlier postmenstrual age (PMA) than females, despite females having a lower mean birthweight and slower mean growth velocity compared to males.

 

Comments:

Thank you for sharing the findings of your retrospective study on premature infants and their risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). It appears that you investigated whether there were any differences between male and female infants from mixed-sex multiple gestations in terms of ROP stage development and the need for ROP treatment. Here's a summary of your study's findings:

Most Severe ROP Stage: Your study found no statistically significant difference between male and female infants in terms of the most severe stage of ROP developed. This suggests that both male and female infants from mixed-sex multiple gestations were equally susceptible to reaching the most severe stages of ROP.

Need for ROP Treatment: Similarly, there was no significant difference between the sexes concerning the need for ROP treatment. This implies that both male and female infants required similar levels of medical intervention for ROP.

Treatment Timing: However, the study revealed that males received ROP treatment at an earlier postmenstrual age (PMA) compared to females. Despite this, females had a lower mean birthweight and slower mean growth velocity when compared to males. This finding indicates that males may have been identified and treated for ROP at an earlier stage of development than females, even though females displayed slower growth and lower birthweight.

These results suggest that while there were no apparent sex-based differences in the severity of ROP or the need for treatment, there was a discrepancy in the timing of treatment between males and females. Males received treatment at an earlier PMA, potentially indicating that they were identified and treated for ROP earlier than females, despite females exhibiting slower growth and lower birthweight.

It's important to note that retrospective studies have limitations, such as the reliance on existing medical records and potential confounding factors. Further research, including prospective studies, may be warranted to validate these findings and explore potential underlying reasons for the observed treatment timing disparity.

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