OBJECTIVES : Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a sudden obstruction of retinal venous system and is a major cause of visual impairment. The objective of this pilot study is to evaluate the disease burden of RVO - Macular Edema (RVO-ME) patients receiving intravitreal treatment in China from societal perspective.

METHODS : A questionnaire was designed to collect cost information of RVO-ME patients treated with intravitreal therapy in China. The questionnaire primarily focused on indirect and direct non-medical costs associated with the treatment of RVO-ME. Indirect costs included work productivity loss, whereas the direct non-medical costs included transportation, accommodation, food and nutrition fee of patients and their caregivers. The survey was conducted among 50 respondents distributed among 16 tertiary ophthalmology hospitals in the East, West, South and North districts of China.

RESULTS : The average number of injection-related visits of RVO-ME patients was estimated at 2.6 per annum. The direct non-medical cost per injection visit of RVO-ME patients was estimated at 1,243.7RMB with the largest proportion of the cost of 726.0RMB falling onto the transportation fee. The annual productivity loss of RVO-ME patients and their caregivers was estimated at 16,563.5RMB, of which 14,880.0RMB was related to poor vision and 1,683.5RMB was related to injection visits. The annual societal disease burden excluding direct medical costs was estimated at 19,797.1 RMB.

CONCLUSIONS : This is the first study that investigated societal burden of intravitreal technologies in RVO-ME in China. The results of the survey indicated that disease burden of RVO-ME in China remains high, however use of intravitreal technologies that offer lower treatment frequency may potentially generate cost savings and deliver higher societal value to RVO-ME patients and their caregivers.