Characteristics of patients lost to follow-up after intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze and compare the characteristics of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration who were lost to follow-up after receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF) injections versus those who maintained regular follow-up.

METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who were lost to follow-up for more than 1 year (n = 79) or maintained follow-up (n = 186) after treatment with intravitreal injections of ranibizumab or aflibercept for exudative age-related macular degeneration. Age, sex, place of residence, type of health insurance, distance from the hospital, laterality of involvement, and follow-up duration were analyzed.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, or type of health insurance. However, patients lost to follow-up resided significantly further from the hospital versus those with regular follow-up (33.1 ± 26.8 vs. 21.6 ± 8.5 km; P = 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of patients that were lost to follow-up had unilateral involvement (P < 0.001) and resided in rural areas (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Distance from the hospital, rural residency, and unilateral involvement are significantly associated with nonadherence to follow-up among patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections.