Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Quality of Life of Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Two-Wave Panel Study.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Intravitreal injections of antiangiogenic agents (anti-VEGF) can stop vision loss in the neovascular form of the disease (nAMD). The aim of this study was to assess the general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a cohort of patients with nAMD treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections and to detesrmine to what extent their HRQoL was affected by COVID-19. This was an observational, analytical, and longitudinal study performed with a two-wave panel survey. Clinical outcomes, HRQoL, and tangible support were evaluated. In the final survey, changes in living conditions and medical visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic were also examined. Of the 102 patients initially interviewed in the before-COVID survey, 24 were lost after 30 months of follow-up. In the initial assessment, the mean health index was 0.73 ± 0.2. The EQ VAS score worsened at the final survey (p = 0.048). Patients needing treatment in both eyes (p = 0.007) and with lower levels of bilateral visual acuity (p = 0.018) reported an increase in social support at the final survey. In conclusion, patients perceived a worsening in HRQoL after confinement. However, patients enjoyed good social support that improved in the after-COVID survey.

Modifiable Determinants of Satisfaction with Intravitreal Treatment in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

BACKGROUND: The success of intravitreal treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) depends on maximal adherence to treatment, which in turn requires patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with nAMD patient satisfaction to implement actions to improve treatment experiences and increase adherence. DESIGN: This was a prospective, observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Our study included 100 consecutive nAMD patients under intravitreal treatment for at least 1 year. METHODS: Patients completed the Macular Disease Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (MacTSQ) and the EuroQol Visual Analog Scale (EQ VAS). A logistic regression was estimated to model the low values of the satisfaction score (MacTSQ < 50). RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 82.1 ± 7.8 years and 62% were female. Males (p = 0.002) and patients who improved their visual acuity (p = 0.004) were more satisfied, while patients who received a higher number of injections (p = 0.036) and treatment in both eyes (p = 0.001) were less satisfied. Higher health-related quality of life was related to higher satisfaction. The sensitivity and specificity of the predictive model were 75.8% and 76.1%, respectively. Factors independently associated with low satisfaction were female sex (odds ratio [OR] 6.84), going to the clinic alone (OR 8.51), longer duration of treatment (OR 0.62), receiving treatment in both eyes (OR 3.54), and suffering a decline in visual acuity (OR 3.30). The questionnaire revealed patients' needs for more information and injection points closer to their homes. CONCLUSIONS: Well-defined areas for improvement were identified, i.e. to improve the information offered to each patient, to incorporate new long-acting drugs, and to establish locations for injection services in peripheral areas.

Silicone microbubbles after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration: incidence, quantification and secondary optical coherence tomography artfacts.

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and quantity of silicone oil microbubbles and the relationship with the number of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and evaluate if microbubbles induce artefacts on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. Patients with wet age-related macular degeneration were included who had been treated for 1 year minimally with anti-VEGF injections repackaged in the hospital pharmacy. Detection and quantification of silicone microbubbles by mydriatic biomicroscopic examination were conducted 1 month after the last injection. The numbers of microbubbles were quantified on a scale of 0-3: 0, none; 1 scarce (1-10 microbubbles); 2 moderate (10-30); or 3 numerous (>30). Shadowing on OCT images was classified as 0-3: 0, none; 1 obscuring some retinal layers; 2 obscuring all retinal layers; or 3 obscuring the retinal thickness. RESULTS: The study included 142 eyes of 98 patients (mean age, 82.4 years + 7.3; range, 65-97) treated with 2377 injections. Microbubbles were detected in 127 (89.4%) eyes, 62 (43.6%) with numerous microbubbles and 36 (25.4%) and 29 (20.4%), respectively, with scarce and moderate numbers. A positive correlation was found between the numbers of injections and intravitreal silicone (rho, 0.7). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) artefacts were detected in 11 eyes; the artefacts obscured all retinal layers in three eyes. No significant relationship could be established between the appearance of floaters and the microbubbles. CONCLUSION: The presence and number of silicone microbubbles were correlated with the number of intravitreal injections. Microbubbles can produce OCT artefacts, which can hinder the treatment decision.