Scientists recently discovered a disturbing correlation between maternal asthma and an increased risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a potentially blinding eye disorder that can affect premature infants.
Upon analyzing nearly two decades of medical data from the University of Colorado ROP registry, researchers found that babies born prematurely to mothers with asthma face notably higher odds of developing severe forms of the condition. Findings from the Boulder-based university were detailed in the paper, “The Clinical Association of Maternal Asthma and the Development of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Preterm Infants.” The paper was published in the Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases.
According to the paper’s authors, ROP is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness globally. The condition occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retina of premature infants, potentially leading to retinal detachment and vision loss.
Although known risk factors include low birth weight, early gestational age and oxygen exposure after birth, university researchers turned their attention to maternal health conditions that might predispose infants to the disease.
The study examined the medical records of 2,237 preterm infants between January 2006 and February 2024, focusing on those preemies who met eligibility criteria based on gestational age and birth weight.
Among these infants:
- 13.5% were born to mothers with a history of asthma
- 7.6% in this group developed severe (Type 1) ROP
- 9.3% required medical or surgical treatment
Using statistical modeling to adjust for key factors such as birth weight and gestational age, researchers found that maternal asthma substantially increased the odds of serious outcomes.
The analysis revealed that infants of mothers with asthma were:
- 2.39 times more likely to develop Type 1 ROP
- 2.14 times more likely to develop Type 2 ROP
- 1.87 times more likely to require treatment for the condition
All findings were statistically significant, reinforcing the strength of the association, researchers noted.
According to a university press release, the study’s authors said identifying maternal asthma as a risk factor may help improve early risk assessment and screening strategies in neonatal care. By flagging infants at higher risk earlier, they noted, physicians could intervene sooner, potentially preventing vision loss.
“When you’re born prematurely, those blood vessels have not had time to grow out as far as they need to. In ROP, the pathways of blood vessels can grow in an unhealthy way. It can cause bleeding, scarring and retinal detachments, all of which can cause permanent vision loss,” said contributing author, Dallin Milner, MD, who was an ophthalmology resident with the university at the time of research and is now a retina fellow at Emory University in Atlanta.
Although the study’s authors said their findings demonstrate a clear association, it does not establish causation, they noted. They encouraged further research to determine the biological mechanisms that might explain the connection between maternal asthma and abnormal retinal development.
Possible areas of future research, they said, include:
- Effects of maternal inflammation during pregnancy
- Oxygen delivery differences in utero
- Medication or environmental factors linked to asthma
With preterm birth rates remaining a global concern, the study’s authors said their findings also underscore the importance of comprehensive prenatal care and monitoring. For mothers with asthma, proactive management during pregnancy could prove vital not only for their own health but also for reducing risks to their newborns.
“If we can better predict the risk of these infants, then we can hopefully keep a closer watch on those who are more at risk,” Dr. Milner said. “We hope to validate our findings with other institutions, because this research could impact care moving forward.”
