Identifying Risk Factors of Poor Visual Outcomes Following Loss to Follow-Up Among Patients with Neovascular AMD

A new study sought to discern risk factors of poor visual outcomes following a loss to follow-up (LTFU) in neovascular AMD (nAMD) patients treated with anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. The findings were published at American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2021.

This retrospective study, led by Jean-Philippe Rozon MD and colleagues, assessed 1,291 nAMD patients who were treated between 2013 and 2020 in two Canadian hospital. In this case, a LTFU was defined as a delay of ≥4 weeks of the planned injection. Poor visual outcome was defined as a loss of ≥ 15 letters during follow-up.

In total, 1,291 patients were included in the study. Multivariate analysis displayed that intraretinal fluid at the last visit before LTFU was a risk factor for poor visual outcomes (P = 0.034), and that presence of subretinal fluid (P = 0.04), and ranibizumab or aflibercept use (versus bevacizumab) (P = 0.022 and P = 0.006, respectively) were protective factors.

“Our study identified multiple protective and risk factors of poor visual outcomes following a LTFU in nAMD patients,” the researchers wrote.

Source: Rozon JP, et al. Risk Factors of Poor Visual Outcomes Following Loss to Follow-Up Among Patients with Neovascular AMD Treated Under Universal Health Coverage. Poster 355. Published for AAO 2021; Nov. 12-15, 2021, New Orleans, LA.