Abstract
Purpose :
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, ophthalmology injection clinic volume at the Veteran Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles decreased by 50% and it rebounded back to pre-COVID clinic volumes immediately after. The COVID-19 vaccines were introduced for individuals 16 years and older under emergency use authorization by the FDA in December of 2020. The focus of this study is to examine non-ophthalmic characteristics of patients in intravitreal injection clinic during the COVID-19 vaccine era.
Methods :
Retrospective chart review study of patients who received intravitreal injections during 7-week period in 2021 (COVID-19 vaccine era) was compared to 2019 (baseline pre-pandemic), and 2020 (peak COVID-19). Electronic medical records were used to obtain patients’ demographics, ophthalmic conditions, non-ophthalmic conditions, and COVID-19 vaccine records.
Results :
During the 7-week period in 2021, 88.5 % of patients receiving intravitreal injections were vaccinated (n= 263). Of the vaccinated patients, 83.6% received the Pfizer vaccine, 3.8% Moderna, and 1.1% J&J. Of those receiving either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, 1.7% were partially vaccinated while all others were fully vaccinated. Patients with a higher BMI were more likely to follow up after vaccination compared to baseline (p=0.019). Hispanic patients were more likely to follow up after vaccination compared to peak COVID-19 period (p=0.026). Cancer patients were more likely to follow up following vaccine compared to baseline (p=0.0001), but no difference compared to peak COVID-19 period. Transplant patients were more likely to follow up following vaccination compared to peak COVID-19 period (p=0.0001), but no difference compared to baseline (p=0.656). Patients with COPD were less likely to follow up even with vaccine (p=0.0001).
Conclusions :
The availability of the COVID-19 vaccines impacted intravitreal injection follow up at the VA Los Angeles ophthalmology injection clinic. Most patients receiving intravitreal injection clinic were fully vaccinated. Immunocompromised patients and those with higher BMI were more likely to follow up after the availability of COVID-19 vaccination. Patients with COPD were less likely to follow up even with the availability of vaccines.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.