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The negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic on age-related macular degeneration patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections.
Arnon, Roee; Pikkel, Joseph; Yahalomi, Tal; Stanescu, Nir; Wood, Keren; Leshno, Ari; Achiron, Asaf; Hilely, Assaf.
  • Arnon R; Ophthalmology Department, Assuta-Samson Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel. roee.arnon@gmail.com.
  • Pikkel J; Ophthalmology Department, Assuta-Samson Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel.
  • Yahalomi T; School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
  • Stanescu N; Ophthalmology Department, Assuta-Samson Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel.
  • Wood K; Ophthalmology Department, Assuta-Samson Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel.
  • Leshno A; Ophthalmology Department, Assuta-Samson Medical Center, Ashdod, Israel.
  • Achiron A; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
  • Hilely A; Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Int Ophthalmol ; 42(11): 3387-3395, 2022 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1859041
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

COVID-19 emerged in the end of 2019 and was declared a worldwide pandemic shortly after. Social distancing and lockdowns resulted in lower compliance in intravitreal injections and office visits. We aimed to assess clinical outcomes among patients who missed these visits compared to those who arrived as planned.

METHODS:

Patients who missed or were late to office visits or intravitreal injections were defined as non-adherent and were compared to adherent patients. Our main outcomes were the need for subsequent injections, mean change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central macular thickness (CMT).

RESULTS:

This study included 77 patients (24 adherent and 53 non-adherent). The mean BCVA remained stable during the study period for the adherent group (p = 0.159) and worsened in the non-adherent group (p < 0.001). Changes in CMT and maximum thickness were not significant for either group. A higher proportion of patients in the non-adherent group needed subsequent intravitreal injections (49% vs 20%, p = 0.014).

CONCLUSION:

The findings demonstrate the negative implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of deferring bevacizumab injections among individuals with age-related macular degeneration. This emphasizes the importance of a scheduled follow-up, also during a pandemic.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Macular Degeneration Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Int Ophthalmol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S10792-022-02337-y

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Macular Degeneration Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Int Ophthalmol Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S10792-022-02337-y