Abstract
Purpose::
To provide 5- and 10-year advanced AMD (AAMD) progression rates in AREDS for the simplified clinical scale based on final study data. We also evaluate the utility of the simple scale in assessing vision loss.
Methods::
The AREDS simple scale specifies risk categories for a person to develop advanced AMD, defined as neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy that involves the center of the macula. The 5-step scale is based on the presence or absence in each eye of 2 easily identified retinal abnormalities or factors, drusen and pigment abnormalities. We estimated 5- and 10-year risks of developing advanced AMD (AAMD) in at least one eye and computed the 5- and 10- year median visual acuity by simple scale score.
Results::
The estimated 5-year probabilities of AAMD for participants without AAMD in either eye at baseline increases in the following sequence: 0 factors, 0.4%; 1 factor, 3%; 2 factors, 12%; 3 factors, 27%; and 4 factors, 44%. The estimated 10-year probabilities of AAMD are: 0 factors, 1%; 1 factor, 9%; 2 factors, 28%; 3 factors, 51%; and 4 factors, 69%. The estimated 5-year probabilities of AAMD in the fellow eye for participants with AAMD in one eye at baseline are: 2 factors, 10%; 3 factors, 37%; and 4 factors, 54%. The estimated 10-year rates of AAMD for this same subgroup are: 2 factors, 23%; 3 factors, 60%; and 4 factors, 75%. The median 5- and 10-year visual acuities for participants without AAMD at baseline in either eye at ranges from 85 letters (20/20) to 83 letters (20/25) for participants with 0 to 2 factors and from 74 letters (20/32) and 65 letters (20/50) for participants with 3 or 4 factors respectively.
Conclusions::
This simple scale can be used to inform patients with AMD of their risk of developing advanced AMD or vision loss.
Clinical Trial::
www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00000145
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • visual acuity