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Causes and Clinical Impact of Loss to Follow-Up in Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Research Abstract
Purpose: This study determined the clinical impact and causes of loss to follow-up (LTFU) from the patients’ perspective in individuals with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) who received panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and/or intravitreal injections (IVIs) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Methods: This prospective cohort study included 467 patients with PDR who received PRP and/or IVIs of anti-VEGF between May 2013 and June 2018. LTFU was defined as missing any follow-up visit for any interval exceeding 6 months, provided that patients eventually resumed care. Main outcome measures include rates and causes of LTFU. Results: A total of 391 patients (83.7%) were followed, and 76 patients (16.3%) were LTFU over the study period. Rates of LTFU decreased with age (P = 0.005). Questionnaire analysis conducted for patients LTFU showed a significant positive correlation between best corrected visual activity (BCVA) loss and patient’s lack of trust and satisfaction with treatment [rs = 0.458, P 0.001]. There was also a significant positive correlation between treatment unaffordability and number of IVIs of anti-VEGF [rs = 0.55, P 0.001] and lack of social support and age [rs = 0.39, P 0.001]. Conclusions: LTFU threatens vision in PDR patients receiving PRP and/or IVIs of anti-VEGF. Possibly, patient-specific LTFU causes should be addressed before treatment in order to minimize the risk of LTFU.
Research Authors
Hazem Abdelmotaal, Walid Ibrahim, Mohamed Sharaf, Khaled Abdelazeem
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of Ophthalmology
Research Pages
8
Research Publisher
Hindawi
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
NULL
Research Website
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/joph/2020/7691724/
Research Year
2020