Dataset Information

Effects of delay in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To assess the impact of COVID-19-related delay in intravitreal injection timing on macular structure and visual acuity (VA) among patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD).

Methods

We reviewed demographic and clinical data and macular ocular computerized tomographic images of 34 patients (48 eyes, group A) who did not follow their injection schedule during the first wave of COVID-19 and compared them to 46 patients (71 eyes, group B) who did. Functional worsening was defined as a loss of at least 0.1 in decimal VA. Anatomic worsening was defined as new or increased subretinal/intraretinal fluids or new hemorrhage.

Results

The planned mean ± standard deviation intervals between the intravitreal injections were 5.7 ± 2.7 weeks for group A and 5.5 ± 2.4 weeks for group B (P = 0.60). The actual intervals were 13.6 ± 6.8 (7.9 ± 5.2 weeks' delay) and 5.3 ± 2.4 weeks (no delay), respectively (P < 0.001). The best corrected visual acuity worsened in 23 group A eyes (47.9%) and in 6 group B eyes (8.5%) (odds ratio [OR] 9.97, P < 0.001). Anatomic features indicative of nvAMD worsening were detected in 31 group A eyes (64.6%) and in 16 group B eyes (22.5%) (OR 5.73, P < 0.001). A new macular hemorrhage was observed in 4 group A eyes (8.3%) and in no group B eyes (P = 0.09).

Conclusion

Delay in timely retinal care during the COVID-19 restrictions period resulted in short-term negative outcomes, including macular bleeding, in nvAMD patients.

SUBMITTER: Hanhart J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8747863 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceLoss to follow-up (LTFU) after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections increases the risk of vision loss among patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).ObjectiveTo report rates of LTFU among patients with nAMD after anti-VEGF injections and to identify risk factors associated with LTFU in this population.Design, setting, and participantsThis retrospective cohort study of data from 9007 patients who received anti-VEGF injections for treatment of nAMD was performed at an urban, private retina practice with multiple locations from April 1, 2012, to January 12, 2016.Main outcomes and measuresRates of LTFU after anti-VEGF injections. Loss to follow-up was defined as receipt of 1 or more injections with no subsequent follow-up visit within 12 months.ResultsAmong the 9007 patients (mean [SD] age, 81.2 [8.8] years; 5917 [65.7%] female; 7905 [87.8%] white), 2003 (22.2%) were LTFU. Odds of LTFU were greater among patients 81 to 85 years of age (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.38-1.82; P < .001), 86 to 90 years of age (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 2.00-2.62; P < .001), and more than 90 years of age (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 2.83-3.86; P < .001) compared with patients 80 years of age and younger. Odds of LTFU among African American patients (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.00-2.16; P = .05), Asian patients (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.71-4.03; P < .001), patients of other race (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.38-6.82; P = .006), and patients of unreported race (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.96-2.68; P < .001) were greater than odds of LTFU among white patients. Odds of LTFU were greater among patients with regional adjusted gross income of $50 000 or less (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.30-1.79; P < .001), $51 000 to $75 000 (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17-1.56; P < .001), and $76 000 to $100 000 (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.08-1.50; P = .004) compared with patients with incomes greater than $100 000. Odds of LTFU for patients living 21 to 30 miles (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.05-1.69; P = .02) and more than 30 miles (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.28-1.88; P < .001) from clinic were greater compared with patients who lived 10 miles or less from the clinic. Odds of LTFU were greater among patients who received unilateral injections (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.28-1.61; P < .001) than among patients who received bilateral injections.Conclusions and relevanceWe found a high rate of LTFU after anti-VEGF injections among patients with nAMD and identified multiple risk factors associated with LTFU among this population. Although our results may not be generalizable, data on LTFU in a clinical practice setting are needed to understand the scope of the problem so that interventions may be designed to improve outcomes.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of severe vision loss in people 55 years and older. OBJECTIVES:The objective of this review was to investigate the effects of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) modalities for treating neovascular AMD. SEARCH STRATEGY:We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS. We handsearched ARVO abstracts for 2006, 2007 for ongoing trials. SELECTION CRITERIA:We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:Two review authors independently extracted data. We contacted trial authors for additional data. We summarized outcomes as relative risks (RR), number needed to treat (NNT) and weighted mean differences. MAIN RESULTS:We included five RCTs of good methodological quality. All five trials were conducted by pharmaceutical companies. An intention-to-treat analysis using the last observation carried forward method was done in most trials. Two trials compared pegaptanib versus sham. One trial compared ranibizumab versus sham, another compared ranibizumab/sham verteporfin PDT versus verteporfin PDT/sham ranibizumab, and the final trial compared ranibizumab plus verteporfin PDT versus verteporfin PDT alone. Fewer patients treated with pegaptanib lost 15 or more letters of visual acuity at one year follow-up compared to sham (pooled relative risk (RR) 0.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61 to 0.84). The NNT was 6.67 (95% CI 4.35 to 14.28) for 0.3 mg pegaptanib, 6.25 (95% CI 4.17 to 12.5) for 1 mg pegaptanib and 14.28 (95% CI 6.67 to 100) for 3 mg pegaptanib. In a trial of ranibizumab versus sham, RR for loss of 15 or more letters visual acuity at one year was 0.14 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.22) in favour of ranibizumab. The NNT was 3.13 (95% CI 2.56 to 3.84) for 0.3 mg ranibizumab and 3.13 (95% CI 2.56 to 3.84) for 0.5 mg ranibizumab. In a trial of ranibizumab versus verteporfin PDT, RR for loss of 15 or more letters at one year was 0.13 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.23) favouring ranibizumab. The NNT was 3.33 (95% CI 2.56 to 4.76) for 0.3 mg ranibizumab and 3.12 (95% CI 2.43 to 4.17) for 0.5 mg ranibizumab. In another trial of combined ranibizumab plus verteporfin PDT versus verteporfin PDT, RR for loss of 15 or more letters at one year favoured combined therapy (RR 0.3 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.60). The NNT was 4.35 (95% CI 2.78 to 11.11). Pooled RR for gain of 15 or more letters visual acuity at one year was 5.81 (95% CI 3.29 to 10.26) for ranibizumab versus sham, 6.79 (95% CI 3.41 to 13.54) for ranibizumab/sham verteporfin PDT versus verteporfin PDT/sham ranibizumab, and 4.44 (95% CI 1.40 to 14.08) for ranibizumab plus verteporfin PDT versus verteporfin PDT. Frequency of endophthalmitis in included studies was between 0.7% to 4.7% with ranibizumab and 1.3% with pegaptanib. Improvement in vision-specific quality of life was reported for both treatments. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS:Pegaptanib and ranibizumab reduce the risk of visual acuity loss in patients with neovascular AMD. Ranibizumab causes gains in visual acuity in many eyes. Quality of life and cost will be important for treatment decisions. Other agents blocking VEGF are being tested in ongoing trials.

Project description:ImportanceCD11b+ immune cells have been implicated in the formation of choroidal neovascularization in experimental studies on animals and disease-association studies on humans. However, the clinical importance of such observations remains unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate whether the proportion of CD11b+ circulating monocytes is associated with the number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV).Design, setting, and participantsThese observational cohort studies collected data from January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2013, and from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2018. Fresh venous blood samples were acquired for flow cytometric immune studies in patients with neovascular AMD or PCV receiving treatment with aflibercept or ranibizumab as needed for 36 months. Patients (n = 81) without immune diseases were consecutively recruited from a single center in Denmark.ExposuresProportion of CD11b+ circulating monocytes.Main outcomes and measuresThe estimation of the number of intravitreal anti-VEGF injections given at 12, 24, and 36 months by the proportion of CD11b+ circulating monocytes and the correlation between these values. The angiogenic role of CD11b+ circulating monocytes was further evaluated by investigating the expression of the known proangiogenic receptor CCR2.ResultsEighty-one patients were included in the analysis (54% women; mean [SD] age, 76 [7] years). The proportion of CD11b+ monocytes at baseline positively estimated the future number of anti-VEGF injections at 12 (ρ = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.35-0.93; P = .004), 24 (ρ = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.44-0.95; P = .002), and 36 (ρ = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.34-0.94; P = .005) months. This association was also found retrospectively in a larger sample of patients with neovascular AMD at 12 (ρ = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.16-0.68; P = .004), 24 (ρ = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.20-0.70; P = .002), and 36 (ρ = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.41-0.80; P < .001) months and patients with PCV at 12 (ρ = 0.27; 95% CI, -0.28 to 0.68; P = .30), 24 (ρ = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.12-0.85; P = .02), and 36 (ρ = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.27-0.90; P = .005) months, suggesting that this association is not specific to AMD but rather reflects VEGF activity in neovascularization. CD11b+ monocytes highly coexpressed CCR2, an important monocytic marker of proangiogenic activity.Conclusions and relevanceResults of this study demonstrated that the proportion of circulating CD11b+ monocytes estimated and correlated with the number of anti-VEGF injections in patients with neovascular AMD and PCV. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether these findings have clinical relevance to influence treatment algorithms or provide novel targets for medical therapy.

Project description:PurposeTo describe outcomes 5 years after initiating treatment with bevacizumab or ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).DesignCohort study.ParticipantsPatients enrolled in the Comparison of AMD Treatments Trials.MethodsPatients were assigned randomly to ranibizumab or bevacizumab and to 1 of 3 dosing regimens. After 2 years, patients were released from the clinical trial protocol. At 5 years, patients were recalled for examination.Main outcome measuresVisual acuity (VA) and morphologic retinal features.ResultsVisual acuity was obtained for 647 of 914 (71%) living patients with average follow-up of 5.5 years. The mean number of examinations for AMD care after the clinical trial ended was 25.3, and the mean number of treatments was 15.4. Most patients (60%) were treated 1 time or more with a drug other than their assigned drug. At the 5-year visit, 50% of eyes had VA of 20/40 or better and 20% had VA of 20/200 or worse. Mean change in VA was -3 letters from baseline and -11 letters from 2 years. Among 467 eyes with fluorescein angiography, mean total lesion area was 12.9 mm(2), a mean of 4.8 mm(2) larger than at 2 years. Geographic atrophy was present in 213 of 515 (41%) gradable eyes and was subfoveal in 85 eyes (17%). Among 555 eyes with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, 83% had fluid (61% intraretinal, 38% subretinal, and 36% sub-retinal pigment epithelium). Mean foveal total thickness was 278 μm, a decrease of 182 μm from baseline and 20 μm from 2 years. The retina was abnormally thin (<120 μm) in 36% of eyes. Between 2 and 5 years, the group originally assigned to ranibizumab for 2 years lost more VA than the bevacizumab group (-4 letters; P = 0.008). Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in VA or morphologic outcomes between drug or regimen groups.ConclusionsVision gains during the first 2 years were not maintained at 5 years. However, 50% of eyes had VA of 20/40 or better, confirming anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy as a major long-term therapeutic advance for neovascular AMD.