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Thinggaard BS, Frederiksen K, Subhi Y, Möller S, Sørensen TL, Kawasaki R, Grauslund J, Stokholm L. VEGF Inhibition Associates With Decreased Risk of Mortality in Patients With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration. OPHTHALMOLOGY SCIENCE 2024; 4:100446. [PMID: 38313400 PMCID: PMC10837639 DOI: 10.1016/j.xops.2023.100446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Purpose Controversy exists regarding the systemic safety of intravitreal VEGF inhibitors in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). We aimed to investigate the potential impact of VEGF inhibitor treatment on the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with nAMD. Design A nationwide register-based cohort study with 16 years follow-up. Participants Patients with nAMD exposed with VEGF inhibitors (n = 37 733) and unexposed individuals without nAMD (n = 1 897 073) aged ≥ 65 years residing in Denmark between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2022. Methods Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted to assess the effect of intravitreal VEGF inhibitor treatment on all-cause mortality and incident CVD. Main Outcome Measures In a predefined analysis plan we defined primary outcomes as hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause mortality and a composite CVD endpoint in patients with nAMD treated with VEGF inhibitors compared with individuals without nAMD. The secondary outcomes encompassed analyses that explored the impact of the number of doses and the association between exposure and outcome over a specific time period. Results Overall, 63.7% of patients with nAMD were women with an average age of 69.9 years (interquartile range 65.0-76.0 years). Patients exposed to VEGF inhibitors demonstrated a reduced risk of all-cause mortality compared with individuals without nAMD (HR, 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.81), and an increased risk of composite CVD (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07). The decreased risk of all-cause mortality persisted, but there was no significant association between VEGF inhibitor treatment and CVD when patients with nAMD were grouped by the number of doses or considered exposed within 60 days postinjection. Conclusions Our study revealed a decreased risk of all-cause mortality and a 4% increased risk of CVD among patients with nAMD exposed with VEGF inhibitors. The decreased risk of mortality is unlikely to be directly pathophysiologically related to VEGF inhibitor treatment. Instead, we speculate that patients undergoing VEGF inhibitor treatment are, on average, individuals in good health with adequate personal resources. Therefore, they also have a higher likelihood of overall survival. These findings strongly support the safety of VEGF inhibitor treatment in terms of all-cause mortality and CVD among patients with nAMD. Financial Disclosures The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Sommer Thinggaard
- Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- OPEN, Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Katrine Frederiksen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Yousif Subhi
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Sören Möller
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- OPEN, Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Torben Lykke Sørensen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ryo Kawasaki
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jakob Grauslund
- Department of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Lonny Stokholm
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- OPEN, Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Basilious A, Smuck B, Duncan J, Malvankar-Mehta MS, Juncal VR, Hooper P, Sheidow TG. Patterns of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor discontinuation in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2024; 59:e161-e169. [PMID: 36924794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To report on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) discontinuation in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS Treatment-naive nAMD patients initiating anti-VEGF injections between 2015 and 2021. METHODS Demographics, treatment start and end dates, number of injections, treatment length, reason for discontinuation, and baseline and final data (i.e., age, best-corrected visual acuity, and central subfield thickness) were recorded. Statistical analyses using STATA 17.0 assessed differences between baseline and final values and between treatment-discontinuation subgroups. RESULTS A total of 619 eyes of 502 treatment-naive patients (9015 injections) were included (age, 81.6 ± 8.4 years; 64.0% female). Discontinuation rate was 58.3% (361 of 619), with 310 patients discontinuing because of the lack of visual benefit (n = 152), severe comorbidity or death (n = 82), transferred (n = 33), stable off active treatment (n = 19), lack of benefit plus stable off treatment (n = 14), patient decision (n = 6), and ocular comorbidity (n = 4). Among the 309 remaining patients, 51 (16.5%) were lost to follow-up. Discontinuation occurred within the first year in 49.3% (n = 178). Visual acuity was at least maintained in all groups and improved in the following groups: severe comorbidity or death (p < 0.0001), lost to follow-up (p = 0.0003), transferred (p = 0.0004), and stable off treatment (p = 0.0053). The lack of visual benefit group had no improvement in vision regardless of treatment length. Compared with other subgroups, those stable off treatment group was younger (p = 0.0055), had better baseline vision (p = 0.0018), received more injections (p = 0.0437) over a longer time (p = 0.0034), and achieved better final vision (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION While there was a high discontinuation rate over 7.5 years, most were attributable to disease or treatment factors and nonmodifiable patient factors. Discontinuation frequently occurred within the first year.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Basilious
- From the Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, ON.
| | - Bobbi Smuck
- From the Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, ON
| | - Julie Duncan
- From the Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, ON
| | | | - Verena R Juncal
- From the Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, ON
| | - Phil Hooper
- From the Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, ON
| | - Tom G Sheidow
- From the Ivey Eye Institute, St. Joseph's Health Care, London, ON
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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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Pai A. Commentary: Patterns of treatment discontinuation in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Indian J Ophthalmol 2022; 70:2070-2071. [PMID: 35647984 PMCID: PMC9359245 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_825_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anant Pai
- Ophthalmology Section, Department of Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
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