Objective: Evaluation of the demographic profile of patients from south-eastern Poland treated due to wet age-related macular degeneration.
Material and methods: Data concerning 201 patients were analyzed (133 F/ 68 M), aged from 50 -91, (mean age 76 ± 8.6), with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibiting drugs. The significance of the relationships between variables was investigated by means of chi-square test for independence. The differences between the empirical and theoretical sample distribution was examined by means of chi-square goodness-of-fit test. The significance level was set at p=0.05.
Results: Analysis did not show any significant differences in the access to treatment with intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors between the rural and urban patients. Urban males and females living in the rural areas received treatment statistically more often (p=0.05). No significant differences were observed with respect to either the waiting time for a visit in a specialist outpatient department, nor the duration of waiting for treatment. Patients from the rural and urban areas presented a similar degree of visual impairment, evidencing the advancement of the pathological process.
Conclusions: Place of residence has no effect on obtaining treatment by patients. The lack of significant differences in treatment between the rural and urban inhabitants may indicate a sufficient level of ophthalmological care in the area of south-eastern Poland. An improvement in the awareness of hazards resulting from inadequate diet and life style could exert a positive effect on the state of health of rural and urban inhabitants. At the same time, knowledge of the disease and risk of blindness related with this disease would increase alertness among rural and urban inhabitants, and in consequence, accelerate an early diagnosis and implementation of an effective treatment.