Patient-reported outcomes and visual acuity after 12months of anti-VEGF-treatment for sight-threatening diabetic macular edema in a real world setting

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2016 Nov:121:157-165. doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2016.09.015. Epub 2016 Sep 21.

Abstract

Aims: To examine objective visual acuity measured with ETDRS, retinal thickness (OCT), patient reported outcome and describe levels of glycated hemoglobin and its association with the effects on visual acuity in patients treated with anti-VEGF for visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) during 12months in a real world setting.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 58 patients (29 females and 29 males; mean age, 68years) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed with DME were included. Medical data and two questionnaires were collected; an eye-specific (NEI VFQ-25) and a generic health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were used.

Results: The total patient group had significantly improved visual acuity and reduced retinal thickness at 4months and remains at 12months follow up. Thirty patients had significantly improved visual acuity, and 27 patients had no improved visual acuity at 12months. The patients with improved visual acuity had significantly improved scores for NEI VFQ-25 subscales including general health, general vision, near activities, distance activities, and composite score, but no significant changes in scores were found in the group without improvements in visual acuity.

Conclusions: Our study revealed that anti-VEGF treatment improved visual acuity and central retinal thickness as well as patient-reported outcome in real world 12months after treatment start.

Keywords: Anti-VEGF treatment; Diabetic macular edema; Patient-reported measurements; Visual function.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / complications*
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / drug therapy
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Macular Edema / drug therapy*
  • Macular Edema / etiology
  • Macular Edema / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Reported Outcome Measures*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Retina / diagnostic imaging
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Visual Acuity*

Substances

  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A