ANTI-VEGF INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS IN PORTUGAL- THE FIRST DECADE 2007-2017
Author(s)
Marques A1, Macedo AF2, Afonso-Silva M3, Laires P4, Santana R1
1National School of Public Health; Nova University, Lisboa, 11, Portugal, 2Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden, 3Novartis Farma, Produtos Farmacêuticos SA, Porto Salvo, 11, Portugal, 4Novartis Farma, Produtos Farmacêuticos SA, PORTO SALVO, 11, Portugal
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) intravitreal injections are sight saving treatments for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The aim of this study was to examine the dissemination of anti-VEGFs injections in the Portuguese National Health system (NHS). METHODS We used an administrative database of all inpatient and day cases stays from all Portuguese public hospitals during the period of 2007-2017. Cases were selected based on surgical codes for eye procedures coded with ICD-9-CM and ICD-10, which are eye procedures usually associated with anti-VEGFs injections. These cases were used as a proxy of episodes with an anti-VEGF injection. Absolute values of episodes, yearly rates of episodes and rates of treated patients per 100,000 habitants were computed. RESULTS The sample included 323,927 episodes and 135,691 patients. These patients had a mean age of 69.6 years and 49% were men. Five diagnoses (nAMD, DME, retina edema, retinal neovascularization and non-specific AMD) were associated with 73% of these episodes. In 2007, the first year after the approval of the first anti-VEGF for eye treatment, the number of episodes related to anti-VEGF injections was of 4,750 (nAMD=1,320, DME=953). By 2017, the number of episodes reached 59,031 (nAMD=18,516, DME=17,581). These values corresponded to a mean annual increase of episodes of 33%, to an increase in rates of episodes related to anti-VEGFs from 47.3 to 532.2 per 100,000 habitants and to an increase of rates of treated patients from 33.6 to 189.4 per 100,000 habitants. CONCLUSIONS The number of procedures related with anti-VEGF treatments grew exponentially since its approval. These events can impose challenges to the NHS in terms of budget and access. Planning the dissemination of innovative treatments is important to ensure these interventions are available to all people that can benefit from it.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2019-11, ISPOR Europe 2019, Copenhagen, Denmark
Code
PSS16
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Hospital and Clinical Practices, Public Health, Reimbursement & Access Policy
Disease
Drugs, Sensory System Disorders