The burden of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a patient’s perspective

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographics of patients and caregivers

	Mean ± SD	Range
Patients, n	103
Age, years	81.4±8.9	54.0–96.0
Male, n (%)	51 (48)
BCVA, ETDRS letters	60.7±17.5	20.0–85.0
CRT, µm	320.6±173.6	210.0–1,016.0
Duration of treatment (months)	70.2±41.5	12.0–149.0
Previous injections, n	53.5±32.9	5.0–136.0
	n	%
Caregivers
Retired	27	26
Employed	66	64
Housewife/man	10	10
Relationship to patient
Spouse	44	44
Child	43	41
Others	16	15

Abbreviations: BCVA, best-corrected visual acuity; CRT, central retinal thickness; ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study.

Table 2 Direct and indirect medical costs

	Mean ± SD
Direct medical costs
Number of visits per year	10.4±0.8
Monthly costs, AU$	232.0±130.1
Medications/vitamins, AU$	51.10±29.30
Assessment and intravitreal procedure, AU$	199.20±83.10
Other treatment and consultations, AU$	120.00±154.60
Annual mean cost, AU$	2,784.00±1,560.20
Indirect medical costs
Travel and parking costs, AU$	64.80±79.70
Time spent per visit, hours	4.4±1.7
Travel time per visit, hours	2.4±1.6
Caregiver time spent accompanying patient to appointment, hours	6.2±1.1
Hours per week needing assistance	4.3±3.2
Annual mean cost of caregivers, AU$	5,333.58±2,184.20

Table 3 NEI VFQ25 scores

Questions	Score (mean ± SD)	Median	IQR	Cronbach’s αa
General health	48.8±33.9	50	25.0	NA
General vision	57.0±20.8	60	55.0	NA
Ocular pain	57.5±28.9	62.5	34.4	0.89
Near activities	82.5±21.6	93.8	75.0	0.86
Distance activities	51.7±25.5	41.7	33.3	0.62
Social functioning	57.9±25.9	54.2	41.7	0.95
Mental health	68.8±24.2	75.0	50.0	0.53
Role difficulties	75.0±32.2	87.5	50.0	0.92
Dependency	80.0±25.1	100	50.0	0.89
Driving	58.9±42.2	58.3	50.0	0.53
Color vision	60.6±26.7	62.5	50.0	NA
Peripheral vision	75.8±28.9	83.3	58.3	NA
Overall score	65.7±21.5	66.8	52.8	0.56

Note:

a Cronbach’s α can be calculated only for multi-item scales.

Abbreviations: NEI VFQ, National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire; NA, not applicable.

Table 4 Direct and indirect medical costs per month by visual acuity subgroups

Visual acuity	Direct costs (AU$)		Indirect costs (AU$)
	Injection costs	Medications	Transport
≥70 letters	186.0±22.2	58.9±19.4	88.9±87.1
60–70 letters	215.0±19.7	78.2±54.7	44.7±44.5
≤60 letters	178.0±35.5	62.9±57.3	85.3±96.7

Table

Amount ($)	Time spent (hours, minutes)	Details of expenditure	Who bore the cost? (patient, carer, relative, etc)	Subsidy (y/n) (If yes, please specify amount and type)