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Treatment patterns in diabetic macular edema in Taiwan: a retrospective chart review

OBJECTIVES: To characterize diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment patterns in Taiwan and examine their impact on health care resource utilization and visual and anatomic outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective, observational cohort study of longitudinal data from medical records of five hospital ophthalmo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Sheu, Shwu-Jiuan, Cheng, Cheng-Kuo, Kuo, Hsi-Kung, Tsai, Ching-Yao, Lin, Tai-Chi, Tan, Jonathan, Chandwani, Hitesh, Adena, Michael, Chen, Shih-Jen
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Dove Medical Press 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6211306/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30464379
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S170089
Descripción
Sumario:OBJECTIVES: To characterize diabetic macular edema (DME) treatment patterns in Taiwan and examine their impact on health care resource utilization and visual and anatomic outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective, observational cohort study of longitudinal data from medical records of five hospital ophthalmology clinics. Patients with type 2 diabetes and DME who received ≥1 laser treatment or pharmacotherapy (intravitreal/subtenon corticosteroids and/or intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] agents) between January 2012 and December 2013 (index period) and attended ≥1 follow-up visit after the first treatment during that period were identified (prevalent population, N=431). In addition, a subset that received no anti-VEGFs before 2012 (anti-VEGF-naïve population, N=77) was analyzed. Outcome measures were change in DME treatment distribution between January 2009 and December 2014 and health care resource utilization over up to 3 years from the first DME treatment received in the index period (prevalent population), mean number of anti-VEGF injections and change from baseline in visual acuity and central macular thickness over 12 months (anti-VEGF-naïve population). RESULTS: Between 2009 and 2014, laser treatment use declined, overall use of anti-VEGFs increased, and bevacizumab use decreased proportionately as ranibizumab use increased. Patients receiving corticosteroids and anti-VEGFs in the first 6 months post-index had greater health care resource utilization than those treated with laser, corticosteroids, or anti-VEGF alone (P<0.0001, cross-cohort comparison). Among anti-VEGF-naïve patients, 69% received one to four anti-VEGF injections in the first year post-index. Overall, visual acuity improvement from baseline was minimal at 1 year (0.4 letters, observed data; 0.1 letters, last observation carried forward), and modest central macular thickness reduction (28 µm [last observation carried forward]) was detected. CONCLUSION: In Taiwanese clinics, DME treatment patterns have shifted from use of laser to anti-VEGFs (with higher health care resource utilization); however, few patients receive anti-VEGF injections at the frequency reported in landmark trials, consistent with poorer visual outcomes. Effective alternative treatments with lower treatment burden should be considered.