Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China
We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anti-VEGF treatment in ophthalmology patients in a single hospital in northern China. A total of 93 anti-VEGF injections were administered to 85 eyes of 72 patients at The China Medical University First Hospital Department of Ophthalmology during t...
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doaj-aa460be9157146709c9ce4d759c304cc2020-12-14T06:41:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2020-12-01710.3389/fmed.2020.576275576275Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in ChinaKai-Bo YangHao FengHan ZhangWe evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anti-VEGF treatment in ophthalmology patients in a single hospital in northern China. A total of 93 anti-VEGF injections were administered to 85 eyes of 72 patients at The China Medical University First Hospital Department of Ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to the same period in 2019, the number of injections decreased by 70%. Fifty-nine eyes of 46 patients were receiving 3+PRN anti-VEGF treatment prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic; all of these patients experienced treatment interruptions due to COVID-19-associated reasons. Anatomic and functional outcomes suggest that patients with anti-VEGF treatment interruptions are at risk for severe adverse visual sequelae. Moreover, deferred anti-VEGF treatment due to patient-related or department-related reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic may result in poor visual outcomes for new patients. Our results suggest that COVID-19 has had a significant negative effect on anti-VEGF treatment in ophthalmology patients. Detailed guidance from global experts in ophthalmology is highly sought after in these challenging circumstances.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.576275/fullCOVID-19anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)age-related macula degeneration (AMD)retinal vein occlusion (RVO)diabetic macular edema (DME) |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Kai-Bo Yang Hao Feng Han Zhang |
spellingShingle |
Kai-Bo Yang Hao Feng Han Zhang Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China Frontiers in Medicine COVID-19 anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) age-related macula degeneration (AMD) retinal vein occlusion (RVO) diabetic macular edema (DME) |
author_facet |
Kai-Bo Yang Hao Feng Han Zhang |
author_sort |
Kai-Bo Yang |
title |
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China |
title_short |
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China |
title_full |
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China |
title_fullStr |
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in China |
title_sort |
effects of the covid-19 pandemic on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in china |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Medicine |
issn |
2296-858X |
publishDate |
2020-12-01 |
description |
We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anti-VEGF treatment in ophthalmology patients in a single hospital in northern China. A total of 93 anti-VEGF injections were administered to 85 eyes of 72 patients at The China Medical University First Hospital Department of Ophthalmology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to the same period in 2019, the number of injections decreased by 70%. Fifty-nine eyes of 46 patients were receiving 3+PRN anti-VEGF treatment prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic; all of these patients experienced treatment interruptions due to COVID-19-associated reasons. Anatomic and functional outcomes suggest that patients with anti-VEGF treatment interruptions are at risk for severe adverse visual sequelae. Moreover, deferred anti-VEGF treatment due to patient-related or department-related reasons during the COVID-19 pandemic may result in poor visual outcomes for new patients. Our results suggest that COVID-19 has had a significant negative effect on anti-VEGF treatment in ophthalmology patients. Detailed guidance from global experts in ophthalmology is highly sought after in these challenging circumstances. |
topic |
COVID-19 anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) age-related macula degeneration (AMD) retinal vein occlusion (RVO) diabetic macular edema (DME) |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2020.576275/full |
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