Evaluation of physical development and state of health in ART-conceived children with retinopathy of prematurity: a population, one-time study

Background. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) poses an increased risk for preterm birth. Women with high body mass index, who opted for ART, have the elevated levels of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which is involved in the development of pathologic vasoproliferation in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Children with ROP are at increased risk for co-morbid pathology.

Objective. The study aims at evaluating physical development and state of health in ART-conceived children with ROP.

Methods. This is a population, one-time study to evaluate physical development and state of health in children with ROP. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS v. 14.0 software package, and included determination of normality (Shapiro-Wilk test), descriptive statistics (М — mean value, σ — standard deviation of the mean), and non-parametric methods (Mann-Whitney U-test, Z-test of a proportion).

Results. The anthropometric characteristics of infants with ROP did not differ from those in spontaneously conceived babies. Children with ROP born to mothers with high BMI had lower anthropometric parameters (p < 0.001) and required longer dynamic follow-up while being diagnosed as “risk group for ROP”. A significantly higher number (a total of 65) of nosologies has been revealed in the ART-conceived infants. Statistically significant predominant diagnoses (p = 0.0047) included dwarfism and obesity despite the absence of anthropometric differences at birth (p = 0.123).

Conclusion. The ART-conceived infants with ROP at birth do not differ in their physical development from infants in the general population, however, on prospective follow-up the former developed dwarfism and obesity significantly more often. Children born to mothers with high BMI have significantly lower parameters of weight and height, and require longer follow-up period while being diagnosed with ROP. The ART-conceived infants with ROP have co-morbid pathology significantly more often than children with ROP in the control group.

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