Journal List > J Korean Ophthalmol Soc > v.60(8) > 1130594

Cho, Shin, Suh, Tchoe, Kang, Yang, and Jee: Status of Usage of Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Age-related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the current use of intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

We analyzed the number and medical costs of patients with AMD diagnosed by the National Health Insurance Corporation (2007–2016). We also analyzed the number and medical costs of such patients who received anti-VEGF treatment, and analyzed the frequency, period of use, and average medical cost of anti-VEGF use in AMD patients. Finally, we evaluated the use of anti-VEGF injections for new AMD patients.

Results

The number of patients with AMD was 236,158 in 2009 and 537,528 in 2016, which represented a 2.3-fold increase over 8 years. Of these, the number of patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy increased steadily from 9,961 in 2009 to 35,762 in 2016. The mean number of cycles of ranibizumab or aflibercept per patient was 4.87 ± 3.37, and the mean interval between treatments was 2.89 months. On average, 6.2 injections were performed in the first year of diagnosis, and the frequency of use decreased with time, with an average of 1.2 cycles after 4 years of diagnosis. Among all AMD patients in 2016, the total medical cost of those treated with anti-VEGF was 76.9 billion won, and the average medical cost per person was 2,162,145 won.

Conclusions

The use of two drugs, ranibizumab and aflibercept, as reflected in public health insurance claims, steadily increased over the study period. Notably, there was a tendency to substitute aflibercept for ranibizumab.

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Prevalence of patients with age-related macular degeneration (2009–2016)

jkos-60-758-i001

Values are presented as n (%).

Table 2

Basic demographics of patients with age-related macular degeneration (2016)

jkos-60-758-i002

Values are presented as n (%) unless otherwise indicated.

IQR = inter quartile range.

Table 3

Cost of patients with age-related macular degeneration by one person (2016, Korean won)

jkos-60-758-i003
Table 4

Number of patients of age-related macular degeneration received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment (2009–2016)

jkos-60-758-i004
Table 5

Cost of treatment of age-related macular degeneration by one person (2016, Korean won)

jkos-60-758-i005
Table 6

Newly diagnosed patients of age-related macular degeneration (2010–2016)

jkos-60-758-i006
Table 7

Number of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept (2010–2016)

jkos-60-758-i007
Table 8

Average numbers of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept according to treatment duration (years) after initial treatment

jkos-60-758-i008
Table 9

Number of injections of ranibizumab and aflibercept (2010–2016)

jkos-60-758-i009

Values are presented as n (%).

Notes

Conflicts of Interest The authors have no conflicts to disclose.

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