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Br J Ophthalmol 2007;91:1303-1307 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.116939
  • Scientific report
    • Clinical science - Scientific reports

Burden of illness, visual impairment and health resource utilisation of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration: results from the UK cohort of a five-country cross-sectional study

  1. Andrew Lotery1,
  2. Xiao Xu2,
  3. Gergana Zlatava3,
  4. Jane Loftus4
  1. 1
    University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
  2. 2
    Covance Market Access Services, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
  3. 3
    Pfizer Inc. New York, USA
  4. 4
    Pfizer Ltd, UK
  1. Professor Andrew Lotery, University of Southampton, Southampton Eye Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; a.j.lotery{at}soton.ac.uk
  • Accepted 29 April 2007
  • Published Online First 15 May 2007

Abstract

Background/aims: Quantitative data regarding the impact of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD) on individuals and society is a prerequisite for rational decision-making processes when evaluating alternative treatments for the disease.

Methods: 75 bilateral NV-AMD (patients) and 91 elderly non-AMD (controls) subjects forming the UK cohort of an international cross-sectional, observational study were independently analysed. Subjects completed a telephone survey including the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25), the EuroQol (EQ-5D), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), history of falls and health resource utilisation.

Results: Patients with NV-AMD reported substantially worse vision-related functioning and overall well-being, including higher depression scores, than controls after adjusting for age, gender and co-morbidities (adjusted mean scores: NEI-VFQ-25 overall 52.7 vs 90.7, p<0.0001; EQ-5D 0.67 vs 0.77, p = 0.0273; HADS depression 6.8 vs 4.0, p = 0.0026). Significantly more patients reported a need for assistance with daily activities compared with controls (25.3% vs 6.6%, p = 0.003). Total annual healthcare utilisation costs were more than sevenfold higher for patients with AMD compared with controls (£3,823.89 vs £517.05, respectively; p<0.0001)

Conclusions: Patients with NV-AMD show a significant decline in quality of life and increased need for daily living assistance compared to a control population without AMD. With the availability of effective new therapies there is a need for improved early access to treatment.

Footnotes

  • Funding: Support for this study was provided by Pfizer Inc., New York, USA.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

  • Abbreviations:
    ADL

    activities of daily living

    AMD

    age-related macular degeneration

    EQ-5D

    EuroQol questionnaire

    HADS

    Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

    HRU

    health resource utilisation

    NEI-VFQ-25

    National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire

    NV-AMD

    neovascular age-related macular degeneration

    QOL

    quality of life

    VA

    visual acuity

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