title: Patient-reported outcomes and visual acuity after 12months of anti-VEGF-treatment for sight-threatening diabetic macular edema in a real world setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine objective visual acuity measured with ETDRS, retinal thickness (OCT), patient reported outcome and describe levels of glycated hemoglobin and its association with the effects on visual acuity in patients treated with anti-VEGF for visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) during 12months in a real world setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 58 patients (29 females and 29 males; mean age, 68years) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed with DME were included. Medical data and two questionnaires were collected; an eye-specific (NEI VFQ-25) and a generic health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total patient group had significantly improved visual acuity and reduced retinal thickness at 4months and remains at 12months follow up. Thirty patients had significantly improved visual acuity, and 27 patients had no improved visual acuity at 12months. The patients with improved visual acuity had significantly improved scores for NEI VFQ-25 subscales including general health, general vision, near activities, distance activities, and composite score, but no significant changes in scores were found in the group without improvements in visual acuity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed that anti-VEGF treatment improved visual acuity and central retinal thickness as well as patient-reported outcome in real world 12months after treatment start.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden; Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: tga@du.se.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Granström
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden. Electronic address: hfo@du.se.
authors.forename: Henrietta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forsman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Sachs Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Research and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.lindholm_olinder@medsci.uu.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lindholm Olinder
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Dalarna County Hospital, Falun, Sweden. Electronic address: dimitrios.gkretsis@ltdalarna.se.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gkretsis
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: jan.eriksson@medsci.uu.se.
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical Research Västmanland County Hospital, Uppsala University/County Council of Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden; Department of Ophthalmology, Västmanland County Hospital, Västerås, Sweden. Electronic address: elisabet.granstam@ltv.se.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granstam
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden; Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: jle@du.se.
authors.forename: Janeth
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leksell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071066:Patient Reported Outcome Measures; D011788:Quality of Life; D012160:Retina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Anti-VEGF treatment; Diabetic macular edema; Patient-reported measurements; Visual function