Patient-reported outcomes and visual acuity after 12months of anti-VEGF-treatment for sight-threatening diabetic macular edema in a real world setting.
AIMS
To examine objective visual acuity measured with ETDRS, retinal thickness (OCT), patient reported outcome and describe levels of glycated hemoglobin and its association with the effects on visual acuity in patients treated with anti-VEGF for visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) during 12months in a real world setting.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, 58 patients (29 females and 29 males; mean age, 68years) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed with DME were included. Medical data and two questionnaires were collected; an eye-specific (NEI VFQ-25) and a generic health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were used.


RESULTS
The total patient group had significantly improved visual acuity and reduced retinal thickness at 4months and remains at 12months follow up. Thirty patients had significantly improved visual acuity, and 27 patients had no improved visual acuity at 12months. The patients with improved visual acuity had significantly improved scores for NEI VFQ-25 subscales including general health, general vision, near activities, distance activities, and composite score, but no significant changes in scores were found in the group without improvements in visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study revealed that anti-VEGF treatment improved visual acuity and central retinal thickness as well as patient-reported outcome in real world 12months after treatment start.
['Granström|Therese|T|', 'Forsman|Henrietta|H|', 'Lindholm Olinder|Anna|A|', 'Gkretsis|Dimitrios|D|', 'Eriksson|Jan W|JW|', 'Granstam|Elisabet|E|', 'Leksell|Janeth|J|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin A D006801:Humans D008269:Macular Edema D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures D011788:Quality of Life D012160:Retina D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D013997:Time Factors D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence D016896:Treatment Outcome D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A D014792:Visual Acuity
Diabetic macular edema Anti-VEGF treatment Patient-reported measurements Visual function