EURETINA abstract: Impact of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration on Medical Status, Daily Living, and Health Resource Utilization: A Survey of Five Countries
PURPOSE: Limited research has been conducted to evaluate the humanistic and economic burden of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A multi-country, cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the burden of bilateral subfoveal, neovascular AMD on visual impairment, vision-related functioning, comorbid medical conditions, and health resource utilization (HRU). Setting: The study was conducted in Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Methods: A total of 872 patients were surveyed including 401 bilateral neovascular AMD patients from retina clinics and 471 elderly non-AMD patients from general practices. Patients completed a telephone assessment of prevalence of accidents and related injuries, HRU, and assistance with activities of daily living in the past 12 months. Physicians provided patients' comorbid medical conditions, visual impairment status, and diagnosis and treatment history. Impact of AMD on patients' daily living, functioning, HRU, and comorbidities were evaluated using analysis of variance models and chi-square tests. Results: Mean age was 78.05 years; mean visual acuity was -20/80 in the better-seeing eye. AMD patients had significantly more comorbid medical conditions than control patients [mean: 2.5 vs. 2.2, p=0.005] and visited ophthalmologists an average of 3 times for visual impairment management. Over half of the patients (51%) were referred for vision rehabilitation and were prescribed an average of 2 vision enhancement devices. Subjects with AMD had 2 times higher risk of incurring a fall compared to control subjects (17% AMD vs. 8% controls, p<0.001). Significantly more AMD patients received daily living assistance than control patients (29% vs. 7%, p<0.001). Conclusion: Bilateral AMD requires substantial HRU and assistance with activities of daily living. AMD patients have a significantly higher number of comorbid medical conditions compared to a control group of elderly subjects without AMD.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: Yes
AUTHORS: Daniel Pauleikhoff, J. Lotery, J. Mones, G. Soubrane, A. Cruess, G. Zlateva
