Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan

Purpose. To observe and analyze the long-term outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with aflibercept monotherapy under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan. Methods. This retrospective observational study was conducted at Taipei Vetera...

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Main Authors: Kang-Jung Lo, Jin-Yu Chang, Hsin-Yi Chang, Shih-Hwa Chiou, De-Kuang Hwang, Shih-Jen Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Ophthalmology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4538135
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author Kang-Jung Lo
Jin-Yu Chang
Hsin-Yi Chang
Shih-Hwa Chiou
De-Kuang Hwang
Shih-Jen Chen
author_facet Kang-Jung Lo
Jin-Yu Chang
Hsin-Yi Chang
Shih-Hwa Chiou
De-Kuang Hwang
Shih-Jen Chen
author_sort Kang-Jung Lo
collection DOAJ
description Purpose. To observe and analyze the long-term outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with aflibercept monotherapy under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan. Methods. This retrospective observational study was conducted at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Patients with naive nAMD who were treated with aflibercept and followed for more than 3 years were reviewed. The better eye was enrolled if both eyes were affected. Visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded for 3 years. The lost-to-follow-up rate, number of injections, and predictive factors for visual outcomes were analyzed. Results. Ninety-nine eyes in 99 patients were followed up for 3 years. The mean age at onset of nAMD was 82.8 ± 9.26 years, and 65% of the patients were male. Compared with initial visual acuity, 5 (5.1%) of our patients improved their vision for 3 or more lines after 3 years of follow-up, 11 (11.1%) of our patients improved for 1 to 3 lines, 62 (62.6%) patients remained their vision with 1 line or less changes, 15 (15.2%) patients lost their vision for 1 to 3 lines, and 6 (6%) patients lost their vision for 3 or more lines. The CMT was 359 ± 180 µm before treatment and 259 ± 98 after 3 years (p<0.001). The mean number of injections was 4.63 ± 1.91 in the first year, 2.13 ± 2.2 in the second year, and 1.42 ± 1.79 in the third year. Multivariate analysis showed that final VA was significantly associated with VA at year 1, the presence of retinal pigment epithelial detachment at year 1, and receiving more than four injections in the first year. Final CMT was only significantly associated with CMT at year 1. Conclusion. After 3 years of treatment under the NHI program in Taiwan, 21.2% of the patients with nAMD still had a visual decline despite good anatomical outcomes. More aggressive treatment or other strategies should be used for patients who may have a poor prognosis.
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spelling doaj-art-c21bf53d337e47bc91c97b569839b4c62025-02-03T01:03:56ZengWileyJournal of Ophthalmology2090-004X2090-00582020-01-01202010.1155/2020/45381354538135Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in TaiwanKang-Jung Lo0Jin-Yu Chang1Hsin-Yi Chang2Shih-Hwa Chiou3De-Kuang Hwang4Shih-Jen Chen5Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanPurpose. To observe and analyze the long-term outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with aflibercept monotherapy under the National Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan. Methods. This retrospective observational study was conducted at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Patients with naive nAMD who were treated with aflibercept and followed for more than 3 years were reviewed. The better eye was enrolled if both eyes were affected. Visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) were recorded for 3 years. The lost-to-follow-up rate, number of injections, and predictive factors for visual outcomes were analyzed. Results. Ninety-nine eyes in 99 patients were followed up for 3 years. The mean age at onset of nAMD was 82.8 ± 9.26 years, and 65% of the patients were male. Compared with initial visual acuity, 5 (5.1%) of our patients improved their vision for 3 or more lines after 3 years of follow-up, 11 (11.1%) of our patients improved for 1 to 3 lines, 62 (62.6%) patients remained their vision with 1 line or less changes, 15 (15.2%) patients lost their vision for 1 to 3 lines, and 6 (6%) patients lost their vision for 3 or more lines. The CMT was 359 ± 180 µm before treatment and 259 ± 98 after 3 years (p<0.001). The mean number of injections was 4.63 ± 1.91 in the first year, 2.13 ± 2.2 in the second year, and 1.42 ± 1.79 in the third year. Multivariate analysis showed that final VA was significantly associated with VA at year 1, the presence of retinal pigment epithelial detachment at year 1, and receiving more than four injections in the first year. Final CMT was only significantly associated with CMT at year 1. Conclusion. After 3 years of treatment under the NHI program in Taiwan, 21.2% of the patients with nAMD still had a visual decline despite good anatomical outcomes. More aggressive treatment or other strategies should be used for patients who may have a poor prognosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4538135
spellingShingle Kang-Jung Lo
Jin-Yu Chang
Hsin-Yi Chang
Shih-Hwa Chiou
De-Kuang Hwang
Shih-Jen Chen
Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan
Journal of Ophthalmology
title Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan
title_full Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan
title_fullStr Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan
title_full_unstemmed Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan
title_short Three-Year Outcomes of Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated with Aflibercept under the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan
title_sort three year outcomes of patients with neovascular age related macular degeneration treated with aflibercept under the national health insurance program in taiwan
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4538135
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