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Meunier A, Opeifa O, Longworth L, Cox O, Bührer C, Durand-Zaleski I, Kelly SP, Gale RP. An eye on equity: faricimab-driven health equity improvements in diabetic macular oedema using a distributional cost-effectiveness analysis from a UK societal perspective. Eye (Lond) 2024:10.1038/s41433-024-03043-y. [PMID: 38555401 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-024-03043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries, with significant disease burden associated with socio-economic deprivation. Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) allows evaluation of health equity impacts of interventions, estimation of how health outcomes and costs are distributed in the population, and assessments of potential trade-offs between health maximisation and equity. We conducted an aggregate DCEA to determine the equity impact of faricimab. METHODS Data on health outcomes and costs were derived from a cost-effectiveness model of faricimab compared with ranibizumab, aflibercept and off-label bevacizumab using a societal perspective in the base case and a healthcare payer perspective in scenario analysis. Health gains and health opportunity costs were distributed across socio-economic subgroups. Health and equity impacts, measured using the Atkinson inequality index, were assessed visually on an equity-efficiency impact plane and combined into a measure of societal welfare. RESULTS At an opportunity cost threshold of £20,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY), faricimab displayed an increase in net health benefits against all comparators and was found to improve equity. The equity impact increased the greater the concerns for reducing health inequalities over maximising population health. Using a healthcare payer perspective, faricimab was equity improving in most scenarios. CONCLUSIONS Long-acting therapies with fewer injections, such as faricimab, may reduce costs, improve health outcomes and increase health equity. Extended economic evaluation frameworks capturing additional value elements, such as DCEA, enable a more comprehensive valuation of interventions, which is of relevance to decision-makers, healthcare professionals and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Oliver Cox
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Richard P Gale
- Hull York Medical School, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, York, UK
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Johnson BP, He YG, Robertson ZM, Wang A, Ufret-Vincenty RL. Impact of COVID-19-related lifestyle changes on diabetic macular edema. Int J Ophthalmol 2024; 17:97-106. [PMID: 38239945 PMCID: PMC10754660 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2024.01.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM To assess diabetic macular edema (DME) progression during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, when severe societal restrictions raised the concern of possible deterioration of health in patients with systemic conditions, particularly those requiring frequent office visits. METHODS This is a multicenter retrospective chart review of 370 patients (724 eyes) with an established diagnosis of DME seen on 3 separate visits between January 2019 and July 2021. Period 1 was January 2019 to February 2020 (considered pre-COVID-19), period 2 was March 2020 to December 2020 (considered the height of the pandemic; highest level of pandemic-related clinical and societal regulations) and period 3 was January 2021 to July 2021 (re-adjustment to the new "pandemic norms"). Main outcome measures included visual acuity, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), macular thickness, patient adherence to scheduled ophthalmology visits, and DME treatment(s) received at each visit. To facilitate measurement of macular thickness, each macula was divided into 9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS)-defined macular sectors as measured by OCT imaging. RESULTS There was no change of BMI, systolic BP, and diastolic BP between any of the time periods. HbA1c showed a very small increase from period 1 (7.6%) to period 2 (7.8%, P=0.015) and decreased back to 7.6% at period 3 (P=0.12). Macular thickness decreased for 100% of macular regions. The central macular thickness decreased across all 3 periods from 329.5 to 316.6 µm (P=0.0045). After analysis of multiple variables including HbA1c, BMI, adherence to scheduled appointments, different clinic centers, and treatment interventions, there was no easily identifiable subgroup of patients that experienced the increase in DME. CONCLUSION DME doesn't worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead sustaining a very small but statistically significant improvement. While identifying a mechanism behind our findings is beyond the scope of this study, potential explanations may include a delay in retinal changes beyond our study period, an unexpected increase in treatment frequency despite pandemic restrictions, and an unanticipated pandemic-related improvement in some lifestyle factors that may have had a positive impact on DME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce P Johnson
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9057, USA
| | - Yu-Guang He
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9057, USA
| | - Zachary M Robertson
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9057, USA
| | - Angeline Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9057, USA
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3
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Joseph A, Bullimore M, Drawnel F, Miranda M, Morgan Z, Wang YZ. Remote Monitoring of Visual Function in Patients with Maculopathy: The Aphelion Study. Ophthalmol Ther 2024; 13:409-422. [PMID: 38015309 PMCID: PMC10776523 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00854-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Remote monitoring of vision, using tools such as the shape discrimination hyperacuity (SDH) test, can detect disease activity in patients with maculopathy. We determined the in-clinic accuracy and repeatability of three myVisionTrack expanded version (mVTx) tests for self-testing of visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity. METHODS Aphelion, a single-arm, prospective study conducted at two sites in the USA, included adults with any maculopathy and a baseline VA of 0.7 log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (Snellen 20/100) or better. Participants completed the mVTx tests (tumbling E, Landolt C, contrast sensitivity, and SDH) and standard clinical tests (near and distance Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] charts and the Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity chart). Test-retest repeatability and agreement between the mVTx tests and the corresponding clinical test were assessed by Bland-Altman analyses. Participants also completed a usability survey. RESULTS The mean age of the 122 participants was 67 years. The most common diagnosis was age-related macular degeneration (42% of patients). The tumbling E test had a test-retest 95% limit of agreement (LoA) of ± 0.18 logMAR; the Landolt C test, ± 0.23 logMAR; the SDH test, ± 0.24 logMAR; and the contrast sensitivity test, ± 0.32 log contrast threshold (logCT). Compared with the distance ETDRS chart, the LoA was ± 0.35 logMAR for the tumbling E test (mean difference, - 0.07 logMAR) and ± 0.39 logMAR for the Landolt C test (mean difference, 0.03 logMAR). For the contrast sensitivity test, the LoA compared with the Pelli-Robson chart was ± 0.30 logCT (mean difference, - 0.25 logCT). Most participants (85%) reported that they learned the tests quickly. The tumbling E test scored the highest on ease of use. CONCLUSION The mVTx tests of VA are accurate and repeatable, supporting their potential use alongside the SDH test to detect disease progression remotely between clinic visits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Bullimore
- University of Houston College of Optometry, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Marco Miranda
- Roche Products, Ltd., Welwyn Garden City, UK
- University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Zoe Morgan
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yi-Zhong Wang
- Retina Foundation of the Southwest, 9600 N. Central Expressway, Suite 200, Dallas, TX, 75321, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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Yayla U, Sevik MO, Karabaş VL, Şahin Ö, Özkaya A, Yenerel NM, Açıkalın Öncel B, Kaplan FB, Önder Tokuç E, Kanar HS, Kutlutürk Karagöz I, Başaran Emengen E, Demirciler Sönmez A, Aykut A, Limon U, Bozkurt E, Özsoy Saygın I, Aydoğan Gezginaslan T, Aydın Öncü Ö, Türkseven Kumral E, Erçalık NY, Çelik E. Real-World Outcomes of Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Diabetic Macular Edema in Türkiye: MARMASIA Study Group Report No. 1. Turk J Ophthalmol 2023; 53:356-368. [PMID: 38126607 PMCID: PMC10750085 DOI: 10.4274/tjo.galenos.2023.56249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to report the demographic and clinical characteristics of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients treated with intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and provide an overview of outcomes during routine clinical practice in Türkiye. Materials and Methods This retrospective, real-world study included 1,372 eyes (854 patients) treated with a pro re nata protocol by 21 ophthalmologists from 8 tertiary clinics on the Asian side of the Marmara region of Türkiye (MARMASIA Study Group). Five cohort groups were established by collecting the patients' baseline and 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month follow-up data, where each subsequent cohort may include the previous. Changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA, approximate ETDRS letters) and central macular thickness (CMT, μm), number of visits and IVI, and rates of anti-VEGF switch and intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IDI) combination were evaluated. Results The 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month cohorts included 1372 (854), 1352 (838), 1185 (722), 972 (581), and 623 (361) eyes (patients), respectively. The mean baseline BCVA and CMT were 51.4±21.4 letters and 482.6±180.3 μm. The mean changes from baseline in BCVA were +7.6, +9.1, +8.0, +8.6, and +8.4 letters, and in CMT were -115.4, -140.0, -147.9, -167.3, and -215.4 μm at the 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month visits (p<0.001 for all). The median cumulative number of anti-VEGF IVI was 3.0, 3.0, 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0, respectively. The overall anti-VEGF switch and IDI combination rates were 18.5% (253/1372 eyes) and 35.0% (480/1372 eyes), respectively. Conclusion This largest real-life study of DME from Türkiye demonstrated BCVA gains inferior to randomized controlled trials, mainly due to the lower number of IVI. However, with the lower baseline BCVA and higher IDI combination rates in our cohorts, these gains were relatively superior to other real-life study counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uğur Yayla
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Derince Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli, Türkiye
| | - Mehmet Orkun Sevik
- Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Veysel Levent Karabaş
- Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli, Türkiye
| | - Özlem Şahin
- Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Abdullah Özkaya
- Memorial Şişli Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Nursal Melda Yenerel
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Banu Açıkalın Öncel
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Fatih Bilgehan Kaplan
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Ecem Önder Tokuç
- Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli, Türkiye
| | - Hatice Selen Kanar
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Kartal Dr. Lütfi Kırdar City Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Işıl Kutlutürk Karagöz
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Ece Başaran Emengen
- Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kocaeli, Türkiye
| | - Ayşe Demirciler Sönmez
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Aslan Aykut
- Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Utku Limon
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Erdinç Bozkurt
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Işılay Özsoy Saygın
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Tuğba Aydoğan Gezginaslan
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Ümraniye Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Özlem Aydın Öncü
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Esra Türkseven Kumral
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Nimet Yeşim Erçalık
- University of Health Sciences Türkiye, Haydarpaşa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Ophthalmology, İstanbul, Türkiye
| | - Erkan Çelik
- Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Sakarya, Türkiye
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Ren F, Zhang X, Gong H, Tian X, Kong X, Hu Y, Yang J, Shi W, Zhang H, Zhou L, Zhang G. Two different initial treatment regimens of Conbercept in diabetic macular edema: 12-month results from a multicenter randomized controlled study. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2023; 44:103745. [PMID: 37567331 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The optimal treatment regimen for diabetic macular edema (DME) and predictors for its treatment`s outcome need emerging evidence but currently poorly studied. METHODS A prospective, multicenter, open label randomized controlled study among adult patients with DME was conducted. Eyes were randomized to three or six doses initial Conbercept treatments. Additional injections were suggested pro re nata (PRN) over 12 months. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was adopted to quantify the macular vessel density. Visual acuity gain and anatomical improvement and their associated factors were evaluated by multivariable linear regression. RESULTS 41 patients with 59 eyes participated in current study. Patients in both 3 + PRN (n = 32 eyes) or 6 + PRN (n = 27 eyes) treatments experienced similar best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) gain and anatomical improvement, including the central macular thickness, foveal avascular aone (FAZ) and the retinal vessel density. Over 12 months, eyes in the 6 + PRN group received better changes of the deep capillary plexus (2.53 ± 5.45%). In multivariate linear regression, the age significantly affected visual outcome in 3 + PRN group (β = -0.014, P = 0.028), while the initial CMT (β = -0.001, P = 0.022) and FAZ area (β = -0.946, P = 0.007) associated with visual outcome in 6 + PRN group. Furthermore, the duration of diabetes exhibited significant results on CMT among 3 + PRN group (β= -7.516, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Both 3 + and 6 + initial treatment regimens of Conbercept loading dose achieved parallel anatomical and functional visual improvement, while 6 + group had a trend of better treatment outcome. Older age, higher initial CMT and longer duration of diabetes might influence the clinical outcomes over 12 months from baseline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengmei Ren
- Department of Retina, Inner Mongolia Chaoju Eye Hospital, Hohhot 010050, China; Department of Cataract, Ulanqab Chaoju Eye Hospital, Ulanqab 012000, China
| | - Xiurong Zhang
- Department of Cataract, Baotou Chaoju Eye Hospital, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Hui Gong
- Department of Retina, Inner Mongolia Chaoju Eye Hospital, Hohhot 010050, China
| | - Xia Tian
- Department of Cataract, Ulanqab Chaoju Eye Hospital, Ulanqab 012000, China
| | - Xinping Kong
- Department of Cataract, Baotou Chaoju Eye Hospital, Baotou 014060, China
| | - Yongcheng Hu
- Department of Cataract, Bayannur Xudong Eye Hospital, Bayannur 015000, China
| | - Jijun Yang
- Department of Cataract, Dalad Chaoju Eye Hospital, Dalat Banner 014300, China
| | - Wei Shi
- Department of Retina, Inner Mongolia Chaoju Eye Hospital, Hohhot 010050, China
| | - Han Zhang
- Department of Retina, Inner Mongolia Chaoju Eye Hospital, Hohhot 010050, China
| | - Lili Zhou
- Department of Retina, Inner Mongolia Chaoju Eye Hospital, Hohhot 010050, China.
| | - Guisen Zhang
- Department of Retina, Inner Mongolia Chaoju Eye Hospital, Hohhot 010050, China.
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Olvera-Barrios A, Mishra AV, Schwartz R, Khatun M, Seltene M, Rutkowska C, Rudnicka AR, Owen CG, Tufail A, A Egan C. Formal registration of visual impairment in people with diabetic retinopathy significantly underestimates the scale of the problem: a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care eye hospital service in the UK. Br J Ophthalmol 2023; 107:1846-1851. [PMID: 36241373 DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2022-321910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To analyse the prevalence of visual impairment (VI), compare it to certification of visual impairment (CVI) and analyse VI associations in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). METHODS Retrospective cohort study, which included 8007 patients with DR referred from the English diabetic eye screening programme to a tertiary referral eye hospital. Main outcome measure was VI, defined as vision in the best eye of <6/24. We conducted a multivariable logistic regression for VI as primary outcome of interest, controlling for age, sex, type of diabetes, baseline DR grade, ethnicity and index of multiple deprivation (IMD). RESULTS Mean age was 64.5 (SD 13.6) years; 61% of patients were men; and 31% of South Asian ethnicity. There were 68 patients with CVI during the study period, and 84% (272/325) of patients with VI did not have CVI after a mean follow-up of 1.87 (SD ±0.86) years. Older age showed a positive association with VI (OR per decade rise 1.88, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.08; p=1.8×10-34). Men had a lower risk of VI (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.79, p=6.0×10-5), and less deprivation had a graded inverse association with VI (OR per IMD category increase 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.93, p value for linear trend 0.002). CONCLUSION The majority of people with vision impairment are not registered at the point of care, which could translate to underestimation of diabetes-related VI and all-cause VI at a national level if replicated at other centres. Further work is needed to explore rates of VI and uptake of registration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Olvera-Barrios
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amit V Mishra
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Roy Schwartz
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mumina Khatun
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael Seltene
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Alicja R Rudnicka
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Christopher G Owen
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | - Adnan Tufail
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Catherine A Egan
- Medical Retina, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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Gabrielle PH, Mehta H, Barthelmes D, Daien V, Nguyen V, Gillies MC, Creuzot-Garcher CP. From randomised controlled trials to real-world data: Clinical evidence to guide management of diabetic macular oedema. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 97:101219. [PMID: 37898362 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) are generally considered the gold-standard for providing scientific evidence for treatments' effectiveness and safety but their findings may not always be generalisable to the broader population treated in routine clinical practice. RCTs include highly selected patient populations that fit specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although they may have a lower level of certainty than RCTs on the evidence hierarchy, real-world data (RWD), such as observational studies, registries and databases, provide real-world evidence (RWE) that can complement RCTs. For example, RWE may help satisfy requirements for a new indication of an already approved drug and help us better understand long-term treatment effectiveness, safety and patterns of use in clinical practice. Many countries have set up registries, observational studies and databases containing information on patients with retinal diseases, such as diabetic macular oedema (DMO). These DMO RWD have produced significant clinical evidence in the past decade that has changed the management of DMO. RWD and medico-administrative databases are a useful resource to identify low frequency safety signals. They often have long-term follow-up with a large number of patients and minimal exclusion criteria. We will discuss improvements in healthcare information exchange technologies, such as blockchain technology and FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), which will connect and extend databases already available. These registries can be linked with existing or emerging retinal imaging modalities using artificial intelligence to aid diagnosis, treatment decisions and provide prognostic information. The results of RCTs and RWE are combined to provide evidence-based guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Henry Gabrielle
- Department of Ophthalmology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, Burgundy, France; The Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hemal Mehta
- The Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Ophthalmology Department, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Barthelmes
- The Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Daien
- The Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Ophthalmology, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France; Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Vuong Nguyen
- The Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark C Gillies
- The Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Bakri SJ, Delyfer MN, Grauslund J, Andersen S, Karcher H. Real-World Persistence and Treatment Interval in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema Treated with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors in the USA. Ophthalmol Ther 2023; 12:2465-2477. [PMID: 37347405 PMCID: PMC10441838 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00750-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is little understanding of long-term treatment persistence in patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections for diabetic macular edema (DME), particularly relating to treatment intervals. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between treatment interval and discontinuation rate after 24 months of unilateral anti-VEGF treatment in patients with DME under routine clinical care in the USA. METHODS This was a non-interventional, retrospective cohort study to review the health insurance claims of adults with DME linked with the IBM MarketScan® Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases, who were continuously enrolled in a health plan for at least 6 months prior to their first anti-VEGF treatment and for a duration of at least 24 months between July 2011 and June 2017. Patients were grouped on the basis of the injection interval they achieved at 24 months of treatment. Discontinuation rate beyond 24 months and its association with treatment intervals at 24 months was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS The overall discontinuation rate among the 1702 eligible patients from 24 to 60 months after treatment initiation was 30%. At 60 months, patients were more likely to remain on treatment in shorter (75.3% [4-week interval group]) versus longer treatment interval groups (62.1% [> 12-week interval group], difference = 13.2%, [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06, 2.06], p = 0.01). Patients on a > 12-week interval were twice as likely to discontinue treatment compared with those on an 8-week interval (hazard ratio = 2.01 [95% CI 1.43, 2.82], p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Patients with DME on longer anti-VEGF treatment intervals at 24 months consistently had higher discontinuation rates in the following years than those on shorter treatment intervals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie J Bakri
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA.
| | - Marie-Noelle Delyfer
- University of Bordeaux, Team "Lifelong Exposures, Health and Aging" (LEHA), Inserm U1219, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jakob Grauslund
- Department of Ophthalmology & Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Vestfold University Trust, Tønsberg, Norway
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Garweg JG, Keiper J, Pfister IB, Schild C. Functional Outcomes of Brolucizumab-Induced Intraocular Inflammation Involving the Posterior Segment-A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2023; 12:4671. [PMID: 37510788 PMCID: PMC10380786 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12144671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Early poor outcomes of intraocular inflammation (IOI) after intravitreal brolucizumab (IVB) have negatively affected the use of brolucizumab in clinical routine. We wished to identify factors related to the treatment details of IOI involving the posterior segment resulting from IVB for neovascular AMD (nAMD), if these were reported in detail. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials, and CENTRAL using the following search terms: <Brolucizumab> AND <AMD> AND <intraocular inflammation>. The risk of bias was rated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool. We included 31 reports (41 patients and 46 eyes). Patients were 75.9 ± 8.5 years, and 58.5% were female. IOI occurred 41.7 ± 37.5 (median 37.0) days after treatment initiation with 2.0 ± 1.3 (1-6) IVB injections. A mean change in visual acuity of -14.6 ± 21.0 (median -6.5) letters was reported. The mean time from first IOI signs to the initiation of any anti-inflammatory treatment was 3.3 ± 6.2 days, with 63% of the patients receiving systemic corticosteroids as standard treatment. Finally, a period effect was observed, with a change in visual acuity of -25.3 ± 27.1 and -2.6 ± 7.3 letters in the chronologically first and last third, respectively, of treated eyes (effect size: r = 0.71; p = 0.006). Functional outcomes markedly improved with increasing experience in managing IOI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus G Garweg
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital (Bern University Hospital), University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Judith Keiper
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital (Bern University Hospital), University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Isabel B Pfister
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christin Schild
- Swiss Eye Institute and Clinic for Vitreoretinal Disease, Berner Augenklinik, 3007 Bern, Switzerland
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10
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Virgili G, Curran K, Lucenteforte E, Peto T, Parravano M. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for diabetic macular oedema: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023; 2023:CD007419. [PMID: 38275741 PMCID: PMC10294542 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd007419.pub7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Background Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy. Antiangiogenic therapy with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) can reduce oedema, improve vision, and prevent further visual loss. These drugs have replaced laser photocoagulation as the standard of care for people with DMO. In the previous update of this review, we found moderate-quality evidence that, at 12 months, aflibercept was slightly more effective than ranibizumab and bevacizumab for improving vision in people with DMO, although the difference may have been clinically insignificant (less than 0.1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), or five Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters, or one ETDRS line). Objectives The objective of this updated review was to compare the effectiveness and safety of the different anti-VEGF drugs in RCTs at longer followup (24 months). Search methods We searched various electronic databases on 8 July 2022. Selection criteria We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared any anti-angiogenic drug with an anti-VEGF mechanism of action versus another anti-VEGF drug, another treatment, sham, or no treatment in people with DMO. Data collection and analysis We used standard Cochrane methods for pairwise meta-analysis and we augmented this evidence using network meta-analysis (NMA) methods. We used the Stata 'network' meta-analysis package for all analyses. We used the CINeMA (Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis) web application to grade the certainty of the evidence. Main results We included 23 studies (13 with industry funding) that enrolled 3513 people with DMO (median central retinal thickness (CRT) 460 microns, interquartile range (IQR) 424 to 482) and moderate vision loss (median best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) 0.48 logMAR, IQR 0.42 to 0.55. One study that investigated ranibizumab versus sham and one study that mainly enrolled people with subclinical DMO and normal BCVA were not suitable for inclusion in the efficacy NMA. Consistent with the previous update of this review, we used ranibizumab as the reference drug for efficacy, and control (including laser, observation, and sham) as the reference for systemic safety. Eight trials provided data on the primary outcome (change in BCVA at 24 months, in logMAR: lower is better). We found no evidence of a difference between the following interventions and ranibizumab alone: aflibercept (mean difference (MD) -0.05 logMAR, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.12 to 0.02; moderate certainty); bevacizumab (MD -0.01 logMAR, 95% CI -0.13 to 0.10; low certainty), brolucizumab (MD 0.00 logMAR, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.07; low certainty), ranibizumab plus deferred laser (MD 0.00 logMAR, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.10; low certainty), and ranibizumab plus prompt laser (MD 0.03 logMAR, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.09; very low certainty). We also analysed BCVA change at 12 months, finding moderate-certainty evidence of increased efficacy with brolucizumab (MD -0.07 logMAR, 95%CI -0.10 to -0.03 logMAR), faricimab (MD -0.08 logMAR, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.05), and aflibercept (MD -0.07 logMAR, 95 % CI -0.10 to -0.04) compared to ranibizumab alone, but the difference could be clinically insignificant. Compared to ranibizumab alone, NMA of six trials showed no evidence of a difference with aflibercept (moderate certainty), bevacizumab (low certainty), or ranibizumab with prompt (very low certainty) or deferred laser (low certainty) regarding improvement by three or more ETDRS lines at 24 months. There was moderate-certainty evidence of greater CRT reduction at 24 months with brolucizumab (MD -23 microns, 95% CI -65 to -1 9) and aflibercept (MD -26 microns, 95% CI -53 to 0.9) compared to ranibizumab. There was moderate-certainty evidence of lesser CRT reduction with bevacizumab (MD 28 microns, 95% CI 0 to 56), ranibizumab plus deferred laser (MD 63 microns, 95% CI 18 to 109), and ranibizumab plus prompt laser (MD 72 microns, 95% CI 25 to 119) compared with ranibizumab alone. Regarding all-cause mortality at the longest available follow-up (20 trials), we found no evidence of increased risk of death for any drug compared to control, although effects were in the direction of an increase, and clinically relevant increases could not be ruled out. The certainty of this evidence was low for bevacizumab (risk ratio (RR) 2.10, 95% CI 0.75 to 5.88), brolucizumab (RR 2.92, 95% CI 0.68 to 12.58), faricimab (RR 1.91, 95% CI 0.45 to 8.00), ranibizumab (RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.68 to 2.34), and very low for conbercept (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.81) and aflibercept (RR 1.48, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.77). Estimates for Antiplatelet Trialists Collaboration arterial thromboembolic events at 24 months did not suggest an increase with any drug compared to control, but the NMA was overall incoherent and the evidence was of low or very low certainty. Ocular adverse events were rare and poorly reported and could not be assessed in NMAs. Authors' conclusions There is limited evidence of the comparative efficacy and safety of anti-VEGF drugs beyond one year of follow-up. We found no clinically important differences in visual outcomes at 24 months in people with DMO, although there were differences in CRT change. We found no evidence that any drug increases all-cause mortality compared to control, but estimates were very imprecise. Evidence from RCTs may not apply to real-world practice, where people in need of antiangiogenic treatment are often under-treated, and the individuals exposed to these drugs may be less healthy than trial participants.
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Key Words
- Angiogenesis Inhibitors [adverse effects, *therapeutic use]
- Aptamers, Nucleotide [adverse effects, therapeutic use]
- Bevacizumab [adverse effects, therapeutic use]
- Diabetic Retinopathy [*complications]
- Laser Coagulation [methods]
- Macular Edema [*drug therapy, etiology, surgery]
- Network Meta-Analysis
- Quality of Life
- Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
- Ranibizumab [adverse effects, therapeutic use]
- Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor [therapeutic use]
- Recombinant Fusion Proteins [adverse effects, therapeutic use]
- Triamcinolone [adverse effects, therapeutic use]
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A [*antagonists & inhibitors]
- Visual Acuity [*drug effects, physiology]
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianni Virgili
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Ersilia Lucenteforte
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tunde Peto
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Mariacristina Parravano
- Ophthalmology, Fondazione G.B. Bietti per lo studio e la ricerca in Oftalmolologia-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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11
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Shahzad H, Mahmood S, McGee S, Hubbard J, Haque S, Paudyal V, Denniston AK, Hill LJ, Jalal Z. Non-adherence and non-persistence to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Syst Rev 2023; 12:92. [PMID: 37269003 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02261-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections play a key role in treating a range of macular diseases. The effectiveness of these therapies is dependent on patients' adherence (the extent to which a patient takes their medicines as per agreed recommendations from the healthcare provider) and persistence (continuation of the treatment for the prescribed duration) to their prescribed treatment regimens. The aim of this systematic review was to demonstrate the need for further investigation into the prevalence of, and factors contributing to, patient-led non-adherence and non-persistence, thus facilitating improved clinical outcomes. METHODS Systematic searches were conducted in Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. Studies in English conducted before February 2023 that reported the level of, and/or barriers to, non-adherence or non-persistence to intravitreal anti-VEGF ocular disease therapy were included. Duplicate papers, literature reviews, expert opinion articles, case studies, and case series were excluded following screening by two independent authors. RESULTS Data from a total of 409,215 patients across 52 studies were analysed. Treatment regimens included pro re nata, monthly and treat-and-extend protocols; study durations ranged from 4 months to 8 years. Of the 52 studies, 22 included a breakdown of reasons for patient non-adherence/non-persistence. Patient-led non-adherence varied between 17.5 and 35.0% depending on the definition used. Overall pooled prevalence of patient-led treatment non-persistence was 30.0% (P = 0.000). Reasons for non-adherence/non-persistence included dissatisfaction with treatment results (29.9%), financial burden (19%), older age/comorbidities (15.5%), difficulty booking appointments (8.5%), travel distance/social isolation (7.9%), lack of time (5.8%), satisfaction with the perceived improvement in their condition (4.4%), fear of injection (4.0%), loss of motivation (4.0%), apathy towards eyesight (2.5%), dissatisfaction with facilities 2.3%, and discomfort/pain (0.3%). Three studies found non-adherence rates between 51.6 and 68.8% during the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to fear of exposure to COVID-19 and difficulties travelling during lockdown. DISCUSSION Results suggest high levels of patient-led non-adherence/non-persistence to anti-VEGF therapy, mostly due to dissatisfaction with treatment results, a combination of comorbidities, loss of motivation and the burden of travel. This study provides key information on prevalence and factors contributing to non-adherence/non-persistence in anti-VEGF treatment for macular diseases, aiding identification of at-risk individuals to improve real-world visual outcomes. Improvements in the literature can be achieved by establishing uniform definitions and standard timescales for what constitutes non-adherence/non-persistence. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD42020216205.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haris Shahzad
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Sajid Mahmood
- Deputy Drugs Controller, Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sean McGee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jessica Hubbard
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sayeed Haque
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Vibhu Paudyal
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alastair K Denniston
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
- Academic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Health Data Research UK, London, UK
| | - Lisa J Hill
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Zahraa Jalal
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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12
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Gurung RL, FitzGerald LM, Liu E, McComish BJ, Kaidonis G, Ridge B, Hewitt AW, Vote BJ, Verma N, Craig JE, Burdon KP. Predictive factors for treatment outcomes with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections in diabetic macular edema in clinical practice. Int J Retina Vitreous 2023; 9:23. [PMID: 37016462 PMCID: PMC10074667 DOI: 10.1186/s40942-023-00453-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections are the standard of care for diabetic macular edema (DME), a common complication of diabetes. This study aimed to identify factors influencing DME intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment outcomes in real-world practice. METHODS This was a multi-center retrospective observational study using medical chart review of participants receiving anti-VEGF injections for DME (N = 248). Demographic and clinical variables were assessed for association with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) outcomes using regression models. RESULTS There was a significant improvement in BCVA (p < 0.001) and CMT (p < 0.001) after 12 months of treatment, although 21% of participants had decreased BCVA, and 41% had a < 10% CMT reduction at 12 months. Higher baseline BCVA (p = 0.022, OR=-0.024, 95% CI=-0.046,-0.004) and longer duration of diabetic retinopathy (p = 0.048, OR=-0.064, 95% CI=-0.129,-0.001) were negative predictors for BCVA response, whereas Aflibercept treatment (p = 0.017, OR = 1.107, 95% CI = 0.220,2.051) compared with other drugs and a positive "early functional response" (p < 0.001, OR=-1.393, 95% CI=-1.946,-0.857) were positive predictors. A higher baseline CMT (p < 0.001, OR = 0.019, 95% CI = 0.012,0.0261) and an "early anatomical response", (p < 0.001, OR=-1.677, 95% CI=-2.456, -0.943) were predictors for greater reduction in CMT. Overall, the variables could predict only 23% of BCVA and 52% of CMT response. CONCLUSIONS The study shows a significant proportion of DME patients do not respond to anti-VEGF therapy and identifies several clinical predictors for treatment outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was approved through the Human Research Ethics Committee, University of Tasmania (approval number H0012902), and the Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee (approval number 86 - 067).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajya L Gurung
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street (Private Bag 23), Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Liesel M FitzGerald
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street (Private Bag 23), Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Ebony Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Bennet J McComish
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street (Private Bag 23), Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Georgia Kaidonis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Bronwyn Ridge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street (Private Bag 23), Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Brendan J Vote
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Nitin Verma
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Jamie E Craig
- Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Kathryn P Burdon
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street (Private Bag 23), Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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13
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Garweg JG, Blum CA, Copt RP, Eandi CM, Hatz K, Prünte CF, Seelig E, Somfai GM. Brolucizumab in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Macular Edema: Ophthalmology and Diabetology Treatment Aspects. Ophthalmol Ther 2023; 12:639-655. [PMID: 36633780 PMCID: PMC10011261 DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00647-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies have become the standard of care in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), resulting in a remarkable decrease in disease-related vision loss. However, the need for regular injections places a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system and improvements in vision may not be maintained long term. As a result of its drying potency and duration of action, brolucizumab, an intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy approved for the treatment of nAMD and DME, could decrease injection frequency for patients and provide an efficacious treatment; however, balancing its benefits and risks can be challenging. There have been reports of intraocular inflammation (IOI) in patients treated with brolucizumab, which, if left untreated, may result in severe vision loss. Recent evidence, however, indicates that early recognition of IOI and prompt and aggressive systemic corticosteroid treatment in response to posterior segment involvement can lead to favorable outcomes in these relatively rare but severe cases. A series of consensus meetings were conducted in 2022 between Swiss medical retina experts and diabetologists, discussing the current data for brolucizumab and exploring various challenges to its use, including the associated risk of IOI. The outcome is a collation of practical insights and guidance for ophthalmologists on the use of brolucizumab in patients with nAMD and DME, including patient selection and assessment, treatment regimen and monitoring, and the recognition and management of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus G Garweg
- Berner Augenklinik, Zieglerstrasse 29 (Y), 3012, Bern, Switzerland. .,Department of Ophthalmology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,Swiss Eye Institute, Luzernerstrasse 1, 6343, Rotkreuz, Switzerland.
| | - Claudine A Blum
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Medical University Clinic, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | | | - Chiara M Eandi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital - Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Surgical Science, Eye Clinic, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Katja Hatz
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Ophthalmology, Vista Augenklinik, Binningen, Switzerland
| | - Christian F Prünte
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.,Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology (IOB), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Seelig
- Departments of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.,University Clinic of Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
| | - Gábor M Somfai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stadtspital Zürich, 8063, Zurich, Switzerland.,Spross Research Institute, 8063, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, 1085, Budapest, Hungary
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