Adherence to recommendations of the age-related eye disease study in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were to determine the rate of adherence to the recommendations of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) regarding vitamin supplement use among patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) at a tertiary retina center and to identify factors associated with adherence.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with a history of AMD were administered an in-person survey designed to assess use of vitamin supplementation as well as to investigate factors that may influence supplementation use patterns. A retina specialist performed dilated funduscopic examinations and categorized patients' AMD severity according to the AREDS classification system. The main outcome measure was rate of adherence to AREDS recommendations.


RESULTS
Sixty-four patients with AMD completed the survey. Sixty-three percent of patients met AREDS criteria for vitamin supplementation. Of those patients who met the criteria, only 43% reported taking AREDS vitamins in the recommended dosages. Among patients using AREDS vitamins as recommended, 100% were return patients to the tertiary retina center and reported a retina specialist as the primary recommendation source for supplement use. Of patients who met AREDS criteria for vitamin supplementation but were not taking vitamins as per AREDS recommendations, 87% were new patients to the retina service and 75% reported that vitamin supplementation had never been recommended to them.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with intermediate or advanced AMD in at least one eye show a low adherence rate to the AREDS recommendations for vitamin supplementation.
Hochstetler
Bradley S
BS
Penn State Hershey Eye Center, Perm State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, USA.
Scott
Ingrid U
IU
Kunselman
Allen R
AR
Thompson
Kyle
K
Zerfoss
Erica
E
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014815:Vitamins; D019207:beta Carotene; D014810:Vitamin E; D015032:Zinc; D001205:Ascorbic Acid