Incremental economic burden associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes considerable healthcare costs for patients and healthcare system, which are expected to grow as the population ages. The objective of this study was to assess the incremental economic burden of exudative AMD by comparing total healthcare costs between the exudative AMD group and non-AMD group to understand economic burden related to exudative AMD. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the National Health Insurance Service database including the entire Korean population. Exudative AMD group included individuals with at least one claim for ranibizumab and one claim using the registration code for exudative AMD (V201). Non-AMD group was defined as individuals without any claims regarding the diagnostic code of H35.3 or ranibizumab. The exudative AMD group and non-AMD group were matched using a propensity-score model. Incremental healthcare resource utilization and healthcare costs were measured during a one-year follow-up by employing econometric models: ordinary least squares (OLS) with log transformation and heteroscedastic retransformation; and generalized linear model (GLM) with a log link function and gamma distribution. RESULTS: A total of 7119 exudative AMD patients were matched to 7119 non-AMD patients. The number of outpatient visits was higher in the exudative AMD group (P-value < 0.0001), while the length of hospitalization was shorter in exudative AMD group (P-value < 0.0001). Exudative AMD patients had total costs 2.13 times (95%CI, 2.08-2.17) greater than non-AMD group using OLS, and total costs 4.06 times (95%CI, 3.82-4.31) greater than non-AMD group using GLM. Annual incremental total costs were estimated as $5519 (OLS) and $3699 (GLM). CONCLUSIONS: Exudative AMD was associated with significantly increased healthcare costs compared to the non-AMD group. Attention is needed to manage the socioeconomic burden of exudative AMD.

The cost-effectiveness of bevacizumab, ranibizumab and aflibercept for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration-A cost-effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective.

BACKGROUND: The discussion on the use of bevacizumab is still ongoing and often doctors are deterred from using bevacizumab due to legal or political issues. Bevacizumab is an effective, safe and inexpensive treatment option for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), albeit unregistered for the disease. Therefore, in some countries ophthalmologists use the equally effective but expensive drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept. We describe the economic consequences of this dilemma surrounding AMD treatment from a societal perspective. METHODS: We modelled cost-effectiveness of treatment with ranibizumab (as-needed), aflibercept (bimonthly) and bevacizumab (as-needed). Effectiveness was estimated by systematic review and meta-analysis. The drug with the most favourable cost-effectiveness profile compared to bevacizumab was used for threshold analyses. First, we determined how much we overspend per injection. Second, we calculated the required effectiveness to justify the current price and the reasonable price for a drug leading to optimal vision. Finally, we estimated how much Europe overspends if bevacizumab is not first choice. RESULTS: Bevacizumab treatment costs €27,087 per year, about €4,000 less than aflibercept and €6,000 less than ranibizumab. With similar effectiveness for all drugs as shown by meta-analysis, bevacizumab was the most cost-effective. Aflibercept was chosen for threshold analyses. Aflibercept costs €943 per injection, but we determined that the maximum price to be cost-effective is €533. Alternatively, at its current price, aflibercept should yield about twice the visual gain. Even when optimal vision can be achieved, the maximum price for any treatment is €37,453 per year. Most importantly, Europe overspends €335 million yearly on AMD treatment when choosing aflibercept over bevacizumab. CONCLUSION: Bevacizumab is the most cost-effective treatment for AMD, yet is not the standard of care across Europe. The registered drugs ranibizumab and aflibercept lead to large overspending without additional health benefits. Health authorities should consider taking steps to implement bevacizumab into clinical practice as first choice.

Cost-effectiveness of age-related macular degeneration study supplements in the UK: combined trial and real-world outcomes data.

AIMS: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 1 & 2 supplements in patients with either bilateral intermediate age-related macular degeneration, AREDS category 3, or unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration AMD (nAMD), AREDS category 4. METHODS: A patient-level health state transition model based on levels of visual acuity in the better-seeing eye was constructed to simulate the costs and consequences of patients taking AREDS vitamin supplements. SETTING: UK National Health Service (NHS). The model was populated with data from AREDS and real-world outcomes and resource use from a prospective multicentre national nAMD database study containing 92 976 ranibizumab treatment episodes. INTERVENTIONS: Two treatment approaches were compared: immediate intervention with AREDS supplements or no supplements. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and healthcare costs were accrued for each strategy, and incremental costs and QALYs were calculated for the lifetime of the patient. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were employed to test the uncertainty of the model. RESULTS: For AREDS category 3, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £30 197. For AREDS category 4 compared with no intervention, AREDS supplements are more effective (10.59 vs 10.43 QALYs) and less costly (£52 074 vs 54 900) over the lifetime of the patient. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendation to publicly fund AREDS supplements to category 3 patients would depend on the healthcare system willingness to pay. In contrast, initiating AREDS supplements in AREDS category 4 patients is both cost saving and more effective than no supplement use and should therefore be considered in public health policy.

Current knowledge and trends in age-related macular degeneration: genetics, epidemiology, and prevention.

PURPOSE: To address the most dynamic and current issues concerning human genetics, risk factors, pharmacoeconomics, and prevention regarding age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: An online review of the database Pubmed and Ovid was performed, searching for the key words: age-related macular degeneration, AMD, pharmacoeconomics, risk factors, VEGF, prevention, genetics and their compound phrases. The search was limited to articles published since 1985 to date. All returned articles were carefully screened and their references were manually reviewed for additional relevant data. The webpage www.clinicaltrials.gov was also accessed in search of relevant research trials. RESULTS: A total of 366 articles were reviewed, including 64 additional articles extracted from the references and 25 webpages and online databases from different institutions. At the end, only 244 references were included in this review. CONCLUSION: Age-related macular degeneration is a complex multifactorial disease that has an uneven manifestation around the world but with one common denominator, it is increasing and spreading. The economic burden that this disease poses in developed nations will increase in the coming years. Effective preventive therapies need to be developed in the near future.

[Early treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration with ranibizumab (Lucentis®): the key to success]. / Frühzeitige Behandlung mit Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) bei exsudativer AMD: Voraussetzung für einen Erfolg.

BACKGROUND: Intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®) is an effective treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Up to now, settlement for this therapy remains quite complex and is handled differently by insurance companies as well as in the different German states. Often applications must be submitted and approved before an injection can be made. This procedure is time consuming and a delay in starting treatment might result. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of late-onset injection on visual acuity before and during the upload procedure. METHODS: All patients treated with ranibizumab intravitreally between February 2007 and May 2010 were retrospectively evaluated for their best-corrected visual acuity at the day of diagnosis, injections during the upload phase and first follow-up visit after upload. RESULTS: A total of 1,149 eyes were evaluated and divided into 2 groups according to time between diagnosis and first injection (group 1: ≤10 days, group 2: >10 days). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups for average age, gender, visual acuity at day of diagnosis and type of choroidal neovascularisation. However, both groups differed in the loss of visual acuity before the first injection and the possible increase in visual acuity. Group 1 waiting ≤10 days showed - in contrast to group 2 waiting >10 days--a smaller loss of visual acuity before upload and greater gain of visual acuity during upload. Those differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of exudative AMD requires small intervals between diagnosis and first ranibizumab injection. After diagnosis, the first injection with ranibizumab should be given as early as possible.

The treatment of wet AMD in Canada: access to therapy (policy review).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in North America, affecting 2 million Canadians older than age 50 years. AMD is subdivided into 2 types: an atrophic form, so-called "dry" AMD, and an exudative or "wet" form, characterized by the presence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Since 2000, after decades with no effective therapy aside from thermal obliterative laser treatment of CNV, 3 new treatments have been approved, each offering significant therapeutic advances at increasingly higher prices, and in an increasingly cost-containment-oriented payer environment. Many of Canada's public drug plans have been relatively slow to fund evidence-based, approved treatments. This paper reviews the disease, as well as the current private and public coverage for wet AMD treatments.

The cost-effectiveness of treatment of age-related macular degeneration: a review.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease of the retina, most often seen among people over the age of 50. The disease is typically manifested by the loss of central vision and as such represents a major threat to the quality of life to those suffering with it. This report reviewed the evidence concerning the economic impact of macular degeneration in the developed world, examining reports on direct and indirect medical costs, as well as those that have attempted to estimate non-health care costs. It also aimed to review reports of the cost-effectiveness of treatment of the disease, examining nutritional supplements, photodynamic therapy, and anti-VEGF treatments.

[Cost-utility analysis of ranibizumab (Lucentis) in neovascular macular degeneration]. / Was darf Lebensqualität kosten?--Kosten-Nutzwertanalyse von Ranibizumab (Lucentis) bei altersabhängiger Makuladegeneration.

PURPOSE: Ranibizumab (Lucentis) stabilizes or improves visual acuity in a high percentage of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As this therapy is associated with significant costs, the aim of this study was to provide a cost-utility analysis, which considers both costs and utility of a therapy with ranibizumab in an economic model. METHODS: The incremental utility for the patient was modelled based on visual acuity data of the MARINA and ANCHOR study. The utility data used assume that the better seeing eye is affected. The study groups used for comparison consisted of patients who only received best supportive care, e. g., low-vision aids. The baseline scenario of the model assumes 6 treatments per year over a 2 year time period - based on the assessment of an expert panel. Treatment costs were based on German pharmacy prices and recommendations for reimbursement of the intravitreal injections. In a univariate sensitivity analysis all important parameters were varied to assess the stability of the results. RESULTS: The baseline scenario yields for predominantly classic lesions 16,882 euro/QALY (quality adjusted life year), for minimally classic CNV 24,766 euro/QALY and for occult CNV 26,170 euro/QALY. If a distribution of the CNV types with 18 - 25 - 57 % is assumed, the mean cost of therapy with ranibizumab amounts to 24,147 euro/QALY. Sensitivity analysis showed that all reasonable variations yielded results which are considered cost-effective ( 0.4) visual acuity, for a variation of costs per treatment of +/- 20 %, and a prolonged treatment duration of 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: In the investigated szenario a therapy of neovascular AMD with ranibizumab is cost-effective for all angiographic subtypes as well as in the sensitivity analysis.

Impact of visual impairment on service and device use by individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

PURPOSE: To assess the patient-reported use of services, supplements, and devices among individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and evaluate the impact of visual impairment level on this use. METHOD: Data for this study were collected using two instruments, the AMD Health and Impact Questionnaire and the Daily Living Tasks Dependent on Vision questionnaire (DLTV). Both questionnaires were mailed to members of the Macular Degeneration Partnership. The study was approved by an IRB and respondents provided consent before participating. Respondents' visual acuity (VA) was estimated using scores from the DLTV, while use of services and devices was collected from the AMD Questionnaire. De-identified data were analysed in SAS. RESULTS: Of 803 respondents, 56% were male and the mean age was 73 years. Use of services (e.g., counseling, rehabilitation), and devices significantly increased as VA decreased. Using standard US costs, costs for services, supplements, and devices ranged from 506-1619 US dollars depending on VA. CONCLUSION: There are substantial differences in service and device use with increased AMD severity. Delaying progression of AMD could result in considerable cost savings.

The burden of age-related macular degeneration.

As age-related macular degeneration (AMD) becomes more prevalent as a result of longer life expectancy and the number of elderly people worldwide, it will become increasingly important to understand its potential health and economic impact for appropriate healthcare planning. This review identified published literature on costs and resource use associated with AMD. Despite the increasing prevalence of AMD, the worldwide burden of illness is unknown. Several studies of direct medical costs, both those associated with ophthalmic care and those associated with other care, have been conducted and have identified increased medical care associated with AMD. Direct non-medical costs include the cost for vision aids; while these costs may be substantial, they are difficult to quantify as no comprehensive sources track the distribution or use of vision aids. Because AMD is uncommon among people of working age, there is less concern regarding the impact of indirect (workplace) costs among AMD patients. However, indirect costs are incurred by caregivers who leave the workforce early or change their work patterns in order to provide assistance to AMD patients; the magnitude of caregiver-related costs is unknown. The cost effectiveness of some interventions for AMD has been explored. Supplementation with zinc and antioxidants for non-exudative (dry) AMD has been shown to result in an acceptable cost per QALY and is considered cost effective. Studies suggest that laser photocoagulation is cost effective but that photodynamic therapy with verteporfin appears to be cost effective only among patients with good visual acuity at baseline or when models extend longer than 5 years. Further research is needed to integrate the information on various components of AMD-related costs into a comprehensive burden of illness estimate and to evaluate basic utility assumptions in existing models.

Socioeconomic status and clinical features of patients undergoing photodynamic therapy or transpupillary thermotherapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare baseline clinical and socioeconomic features of patients undergoing self-funded photodynamic therapy (PDT) or government-funded subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) with a diode laser for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Between July 2000 and August 2001, 115 patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD were offered PDT as an initial intervention. If individuals believed that they could not afford or did not want PDT, then TTT was offered. In masked fashion, leakage pattern and lesion size were determined retrospectively from pretreatment angiograms. Baseline visual acuity was determined with autorefraction and subsequent Snellen testing. The mean income of each treatment group was estimated from the average sex-specific income for each subject's postal code, based on the 1996 Canadian census data. The average education level for each subject's postal code was also determined. RESULTS: The patients who were not willing to pay for PDT had significantly worse macular disease before treatment (larger lesions and poorer visual acuity) and a significantly lower mean income than the patients who were willing to pay for PDT. INTERPRETATION: The severity of exudative choroidal neovascularization appears to be associated with lower socioeconomic status.

Information about age-related macular degeneration on the Internet.

BACKGROUND: A great deal of health information has become available on the Internet over the past several years. Some of this information is inaccurate or misleading to patients. We attempted to determine the accuracy of information on the Internet concerning age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS: The term "macular degeneration" was entered in each of seven Internet search engines, and the subsequent links were followed and categorized. The number of sites that discussed treatment inconsistent with the peer-reviewed standard of care for ARMD was tabulated. RESULTS: Of the 80 unique sites regarding ARMD that we identified, 17 (21%) featured nonconventional information. CONCLUSIONS: Many Internet sites feature unproven and costly nonconventional information about ARMD. Each physician should be prepared to address these sites and to suggest reliable sites concerning health information on the Internet.