Risk factors for photodynamic therapy of predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of various risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on the rate of undergoing photodynamic therapy (PDT).


METHODS
An observational population based cohort study.


METHODS



METHODS
A district of the largest health maintenance organization (HMO) in Israel.


METHODS
All HMO members in the district, older than 50 years on January 1, 2001, who did not terminate their membership until May 31, 2005 (139,894 members); of those, 283 underwent PDT for AMD during the study period (775 procedures).


METHODS
We extracted information from the chronic disease registry of the HMO as well as demographic information including age, gender, country of birth, place of residency, and social security economic status.


METHODS
Effect of various risk factors for AMD on the rate of PDT.


RESULTS
The age-adjusted proportion of patients requiring PDT was significantly higher in hypertensives (P = .03, chi2 test), in hyperlipidemics (P = .002), in ischemic heart disease patients (P = .002) and among males (P = .03) and Ashkenazi Jews (P = .02). No significant difference in PDT rates was noted in diabetics, congestive heart failure (CHF), and chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. PDT rates were lower in the lower socioeconomic class (P = .002). Logistic regression found a significant effect of age, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, socioeconomic status, and gender on the rate of PDT, while ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes, CHF, CRF, place of birth, and place of residence did not contribute significantly to the model.


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, male gender, and socioeconomic status are risk factors for undergoing PDT for predominantly classic neovascular AMD.
Kaiserman
Igor
I
Department of Ophthalmology, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel. Igor@Dr-Kaiserman.com
Kaiserman
Nadia
N
Elhayany
Asher
A
Vinker
Shlomo
S
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007557:Israel; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors