Studies from Yonsei University College of Medicine in the Area of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Described (Incidence of exudative age-related macular degeneration and treatment load under the Korean national health insurance system in …)

2019 SEP 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Business Daily -- Investigators publish new report on Eye Diseases and Conditions - Age-Related Macular Degeneration. According to news reporting originating from Seoul, South Korea, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “The aim of this study was to estimate the nationwide incidence of clinically diagnosed exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and associated use of ranibizumab and aflibercept in South Korea. In this retrospective, population-based cohort study, claims data for 2010-2015 were analysed in a randomly selected sample of 519 661 adults aged 40 years.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the Yonsei University College of Medicine, “The incidence per 10 000 person-years was estimated, along with the 95% CI. Incident exudative AMD was defined based on the registration code for rare intractable diseases. Use of ranibizumab and aflibercept and the incidence of exudative AMD were recorded. Nine hundred and twelve patients were newly diagnosed with exudative AMD in 2010-2015. The 6-year incidence in the general population aged 40 years was 2.9 (95% CI 2.8 to 3.0) per 10 000 person-years. The incidence was highest in individuals aged 75-79 years (12.0, 95% CI 10.3 to 13.8). The incidence was higher in men than in women in all age groups. Six hundred and twenty-five (69%) of the 912 newly diagnosed patients started ranibizumab or aflibercept as a first-line treatment. The average number of injections administered was 6.1 (SD 3.9; minimum of 1 injection and maximum government-supported limit of 14) during 2010-2015; the number increased with increasing government funding support (from 5 to 10 and from 10 to 14 in 2013 and 2014, respectively). This study describes the incidence of exudative AMD in South Korea and its treatment under the national health insurance system in this country.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Its findings could be used for reference purposes and be useful when planning treatment for exudative AMD.”

For more information on this research see: Incidence of exudative age-related macular degeneration and treatment load under the Korean national health insurance system in 2010-2015. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2018;103(10):1361-1366. British Journal of Ophthalmology can be contacted at: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England. (BMJ Publishing Group - http://group.bmj.com/; British Journal of Ophthalmology - http://bjo.bmj.com/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting S.S. Kim, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Institute of Vision Research, College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include T.K. Yoo, S.H. Kim, D.W. Kim and S.S Kim.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-312693. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

Publisher contact information for the British Journal of Ophthalmology is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

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