R P Finger1, F G Holz. 1. Universitätsaugenklinik Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127, Bonn, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neovascular (nv) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Germany and is usually treated with monthly injections of anti-VEGF agents. The current level and the estimated need of service provision for nv-AMD were assessed. METHODS: Current levels of service provision with ranibizumab (Lucentis) were documented in 3,633 patients in the WAVE study, the currently largest observational study in Germany on the use of anti-VEGF agents. The expected need was calculated using German population figures for 2010 and available prevalence data. Both were stratified by age and gender and descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: A larger number of younger patients with nv-AMD (< 75 years) than expected were treated in the WAVE study. Expected need in the age groups 75-84 years and 84 years and older was much higher than the proportion of patients actually treated in these age groups (up to 3 times). Based on expected need, women accessed treatment less often than men. CONCLUSION: In the WAVE study, less elderly persons and in particular elderly women seemed to access treatment for nv-AMD than expected. Future studies should investigate barriers in accessing treatment for nv-AMD and how to address these problems.
BACKGROUND: Neovascular (nv) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Germany and is usually treated with monthly injections of anti-VEGF agents. The current level and the estimated need of service provision for nv-AMD were assessed. METHODS: Current levels of service provision with ranibizumab (Lucentis) were documented in 3,633 patients in the WAVE study, the currently largest observational study in Germany on the use of anti-VEGF agents. The expected need was calculated using German population figures for 2010 and available prevalence data. Both were stratified by age and gender and descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: A larger number of younger patients with nv-AMD (< 75 years) than expected were treated in the WAVE study. Expected need in the age groups 75-84 years and 84 years and older was much higher than the proportion of patients actually treated in these age groups (up to 3 times). Based on expected need, women accessed treatment less often than men. CONCLUSION: In the WAVE study, less elderly persons and in particular elderly women seemed to access treatment for nv-AMD than expected. Future studies should investigate barriers in accessing treatment for nv-AMD and how to address these problems.
Authors: Aljoscha S Neubauer; Frank G Holz; Stefan Sauer; Timo Wasmuth; Christoph Hirneiss; Anselm Kampik; Wolfgang Schrader Journal: Clin Ther Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 3.393
Authors: Sanjeewa S Wickremasinghe; Jing Xie; Jonathan Lim; Devinder S Chauhan; Luba Robman; Andrea J Richardson; Gregory Hageman; Paul N Baird; Robyn Guymer Journal: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Date: 2011-06-08 Impact factor: 4.799
Authors: P Mitchell; J-F Korobelnik; P Lanzetta; F G Holz; C Prünte; U Schmidt-Erfurth; Y Tano; S Wolf Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2009-05-13 Impact factor: 4.638
Authors: Stephen J Bartels; Eugenie H Coakley; Cynthia Zubritsky; James H Ware; Keith M Miles; Patricia A Areán; Hongtu Chen; David W Oslin; Maria D Llorente; Giuseppe Costantino; Louise Quijano; Jack S McIntyre; Karen W Linkins; Thomas E Oxman; James Maxwell; Sue E Levkoff Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2004-08 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Frank G Holz; Francesco Bandello; Mark Gillies; Paul Mitchell; Aaron Osborne; Tom Sheidow; Eric Souied; Marta S Figueroa Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2013-07-13 Impact factor: 4.638
Authors: Frank G Holz; Ramin Tadayoni; Stephen Beatty; Alan Berger; Matteo G Cereda; Rafael Cortez; Carel B Hoyng; Philip Hykin; Giovanni Staurenghi; Stephanie Heldner; Timon Bogumil; Theresa Heah; Sobha Sivaprasad Journal: Br J Ophthalmol Date: 2014-09-05 Impact factor: 4.638