Contemporary Patterns and Underlying Causes of Vitrectomy in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients: A Nationwide, Population-Based Analysis

Abstract

Purpose: We determined the incidence, etiology, and longitudinal trends of vitreoretinal diseases necessitating pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in the pediatric and adolescent population. Design: Nationwide, population-based cohort study. Methods: This study utilized data extracted from the Korean National Health Claims database spanning from 2009 to 2020. All pediatric and adolescent patients (under 20 years of age) who underwent PPV across the Korean population were included. The cumulative incidence of PPV was estimated from 2009 to 2020, with 2009 to 2011 as the washout period. The annual trends of PPV incidence, the proportion of each etiology, and comorbidity were estimated based on sex and specific age groups. Results: In total, 1913 patients, including 93 infants, 746 pediatric patients, and 1084 adolescents, were newly identified as having undergone PPV surgery. The cumulative incidence of PPV surgery per 100,000 individuals was 21.42 (95% CI, 21.41-21.43). The rate of PPV was 2.4 times higher for males than females, and the rate of trauma as a comorbidity was also higher for males than females (13.1% vs 4.8%). Among males aged 5 years and older, the incidence of PPV nearly halved from 2011 to 2020. Among the primary etiologies, ROP had the highest rate (72%) in infants (under 1 year), while RD was most common (63%) in individuals aged 5 to 19 years. Myopia was present in 30.3% of patients, and atopic dermatitis was present in 31.8% of all patients. Conclusion: The primary etiologies underlying the need for PPV in the pediatric and adolescent populations vary by sex and age group. The incidence of PPV continues to decline in the adolescent population. Therefore, tailored patient education and age-specific etiological examination are recommended.