1. Intravitreal anti-VEGF use in France: a cross-sectional and longitudinal Nationwide observational study.
- Author
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Billioti de Gage S, Bertrand M, Grimaldi S, and Zureik M
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetic Retinopathy epidemiology, Female, France, Humans, Intravitreal Injections, Longitudinal Studies, Macular Degeneration epidemiology, Male, Middle Aged, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A antagonists & inhibitors, Angiogenesis Inhibitors administration & dosage, Diabetic Retinopathy drug therapy, Macular Degeneration drug therapy, Ranibizumab administration & dosage, Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor administration & dosage, Recombinant Fusion Proteins administration & dosage
- Abstract
Purpose: To describe the sociodemographic, medical and management characteristics of patients using intravitreal (IVT) anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in France., Methods: An observational study was conducted in patients treated with IVT ranibizumab or aflibercept, aged 18 years or older using the French National Health Insurance Databases covering 99% of the French population. Patients currently treated in 2018 were included in a cross-sectional approach to describe treatment history over the previous 6 years. Patients newly treated between 2014 and 2018 were included in a longitudinal approach to describe treatment management during up to 6 years of follow-up. Sociodemographic characteristics and medical history were described in both populations. The analyses were performed at the patient level, as no distinction between the eyes could be made., Results: A total of 224 775 current users of IVT anti-VEGF in 2018 (mean age 78.1 ± 11.3 years, 60% female) and 330 969 new users between 2014 and 2018 (mean age 75.9 ± 12.0 years, 59% female) were included. In both populations cardiovascular comorbidities or risk factors were frequent and the main treatment indications were age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema. Among current users of IVT anti-VEGF in 2018, the mean number of years receiving a treatment was 2.9 ± 2.0 years, with a mean of 13.7 ± 11.8 dispensations. In the longitudinal approach, a 26% increase in IVT anti-VEGF initiation was observed between 2014 and 2018. For new users, the mean number of years receiving a treatment was 1.6 ± 1.6 and 67% had at least three dispensations within the first three months. A treatment interruption was observed for 83% of new users and occurred on average of 6.1 ± 8.1 months after initiation. The mean number of dispensations was 4.8 ± 2.8 in the first year and 2.2 ± 2.9 in the second year. The mean number of eye monitoring examinations was 6.5 ± 4.7 in the first year and 4.6 ± 4.4 in the second year., Conclusion: This study described the real-world conditions of IVT anti-VEGF dispensing at the entire French population scale. Less frequent dispensations and surveillance examinations were observed than in monthly schemes applied in registration trials for IVT anti-VEGF. These results may indicate a lack of systematic monitoring associated with fewer injections and/or clinicians' preference for more flexible and personalized injection schemes than those originally recommended., (© 2021 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.)
- Published
- 2022
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