Persistency and clinical outcomes associated with latanoprost and beta-blocker monotherapy: evidence from a European retrospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate persistency (time on initial therapy) and the clinical impact of latanoprost versus beta-blocker monotherapy in treating glaucoma.


METHODS
This observational, multicenter, retrospective medical chart review study conducted in four European countries included patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who began their first glaucoma treatment with latanoprost or a beta-blocker between November 1996 and November 1998. Persistency and glaucoma-related clinical outcomes data were abstracted for the 2 years following treatment initiation.


RESULTS
In all, 260 patient charts were analyzed (94 latanoprost, 166 beta-blocker). Patients in the latanoprost group stayed on therapy twice as long as those who received a beta-blocker (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, patients receiving a beta-blocker as initial therapy were 3.8 times more likely to change therapy than those initially treated with latanoprost (p < 0.0001). Patients in the latanoprost group also experienced greater mean decreases in intraocular pressure (IOP) than those receiving a beta-blocker (7.4 mmHg versus 4.6 mmHg, respectively; p < 0.0001), and fewer had worsened optic nerve head excavation (1.7% versus 14.2%, respectively; p < 0.05) by the time of their first therapy change or last study visit, whichever came first.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a 2-year period, latanoprost was associated with significantly greater persistency and better clinical IOP outcomes compared with beta-blocker therapy.
Diestelhorst
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Schaefer
C P
CP
Beusterien
K M
KM
Plante
K M
KM
Fain
J M
JM
Mozaffari
E
E
Dhawan
R
R
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost