Abstract
Purpose :
Aflibercept was licensed in UK for use as treatment for diabetic macula edema (DME) in 2015. Here we report on real life experience in 21 UK hospitals in first eyes treated with aflibercept and followed for at least 12 months.
Methods :
Data were exported from a dedicated ophthalmology electronic patient record system. Those who had aflibercept injections only were included. For those who had both eyes treated for DME, the first eye to be treated was included and for those who had both eyes first treated on the same day, the better eye was included. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship of change in letter score with age, baseline letter score and number of injections. Age groups were defined as <65, 65 to 74, 75 years and above. Baseline letter scores were grouped <60, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, 80 or more.
Results :
Data for 1160 people who could have had at least 12 months follow-up from first injection were available. They were age 66 (56 to 73) (median (25th to 75th centile), the baseline letter count was 64 (54 to 73) and they had received 6 (5 to 8) injections. Over 12 months, the improvement in letter score was 5 (0 to 12).
In linear regression analysis, those with worse vision at baseline had greater improvement (p<0.001), those with fewer than 50 letters at baseline gaining 19 letters more than those with 80 or more. Older people had smaller improvement (p<0.001), those under 65 years gaining 5 more letters than those 75 years of age or older.
Each injection gave an improvement from baseline of 0.5 (0.2) (estimate (standard error)) letters (p=0.005).
Conclusions :
Age at baseline and initial letter score have greatest impact on vision measured at 12 months and each injection gives a significant improvement in vision.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.