Central macular thickness in 6.5-year-old children born extremely preterm is strongly associated with gestational age even when adjusted for risk factors

• Purpose:To assess the macular thickness in 6.5-year-old children born extremelypreterm (EPT) in comparison with children born at term and to investigate risk factorsassociated with the macular thickness in the preterm group.Methods:A population-based study of 6.5-year-old children born before the gestationalage of 27 weeks and age-matched control subjects. Macular assessments with opticalcoherence tomography were performed, and the results were compared with neonatal riskfactors and sex.Results:Adequate optical coherence tomography measurements were obtained from134 children born EPT (mean gestational age of 25 weeks [range 23–26]) and 145 controlsubjects. The mean (range) of central macula thickness was significantly increased (P,0.001)in the EPT group (right eyes: 282mm [238–356], left eyes: 283mm[229–351]), compared withthe control group (right eyes: 249mm [208–293], left eyes: 248mm[207–290]). A multiple linearmixed model analysis of the EPT group revealed gestational age, retinopathy of prematurity,and male gender as important risk factors for an increased macular thickness. The macularthickness decreased by 3.9mm per gestational week, when adjusted for retinopathy of pre-maturity and sex.Conclusion:Extremely preterm birth constitutes a substantial risk factor for a thickcentral macula, even when adjusted for retinopathy of prematurity and male gender.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oftalmologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Ophthalmology (hsv//eng)

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Ophtalmology

Oftalmiatrik

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