Clinical Utilization of Anti-VEGF Agents and Disease Monitoring in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration – Accepted Manuscript
Abstract: Purpose: To examine bevacizumab and ranibizumab utilization and disease monitoring patterns in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (neovascular AMD) in clinical practice.Design: Retrospective medical claims analysis.Methods: Patients receiving ≥1 ranibizumab or bevacizumab injection(s) during the 12 months after initial neovascular AMD diagnosis were included. Annual bevacizumab and/or ranibizumab injection utilization was assessed by year of first injection cohorts: 2006 and 2007 (received either agent because of billing code overlap), 2008, 2009, and January to June 2010 (received each agent). Outcome measures were time-to-first injection relative to neovascular AMD diagnosis, and mean numbers of intravitreal injections, ophthalmologist visits, optical (Read more...)