Exploration of real‐world outcomes and treatment patterns in patients treated with anti‐vascular endothelial growth factors for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration in Sweden. Issue 4 (20th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schroeder, Marion; Westborg, Inger; Fluur, Caroline; Olsen, Rasmus; Lövestam‐Adrian, Monica
• Is Part Of: Acta ophthalmologica. Volume 100:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: e928
• Page End: e935
• Publication Date: 2021-09-20
• Subjects: anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor -- neovascular age‐related macular degeneration -- real world -- Swedish macula register; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.1111/aos.15025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-375X

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: To analyse and compare the number and interval of anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‐VEGF) injections in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD), as well as the visual development in patients followed up for one to three years in clinical practice and during different index periods. Methods: This observational study included treatment‐naïve eyes with nAMD from the Swedish Macula Register that started treatment between 2007 and 2017, stratified by different index periods (2007–2010, 2011–2013, 2014–2015 and 2016–2017) and by follow‐up cohorts for each index period of one, two or three years (cohorts 1–3). Their intravitreal anti‐VEGF treatment was assessed by number of injections, injection intervals, visual acuity (VA) and near VA change. Results: From the earliest index period 2007–2010 to the latest 2016–2017, the number of injections increased for the comparable follow‐up time; 6.2 ± 1.4 versus 8.3 ± 2.0 injections after 1 year of treatment, 4.8 ± 1.6 versus 6.7 ± 2.4 during year 2. The last injection interval was 73 ± 34 days after 1, 71 ± 33 after 2 and 67 ± 32 after 3 years of follow‐up for the index period 2014–2015. For the same period, the percentage of eyes with at least two consecutive 12–16 weeks of injection interval over 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐year follow‐up increased from 5.2%, 15.0%, to 17.5% respectively. Baseline VA for eyes indexed 2016–2017 increased and presented with 62.1 ± 13.4 letters compared with 57.7 ± 13.5 letters in 2007–2010; p < 0.0001. Conclusions: From the earliest to the latest index periods, the number of injections increased for the comparable follow‐up time. Accordingly, baseline VA and near VA and their outcomes improved continuously.