European survey on the opinion and use of micronutrition in age-related macular degeneration: 10 years on from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Practice characterization

	General ophthalmologists, % (n=112)	Retinal specialists, % (n=104)
Age distribution, years
<30	2	1
30–40	42	44
41–50	27	37.5
51–60	22	17.5
61–70	7	–
Practice type
Public	27	29
Private	12.5	11.5
Both	60.5	59.5
Mean total number of patients seen per month	365	356
Mean number age-related macular degeneration patients seen per month	71	119
Mean number nutritional supplement prescriptions written per month	40	34
Mean number of oral advice on nutritional supplements given per month	40	64
Ophthalmologists undertaking anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections	66	90
Average number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections performed per month per ophthalmologist (for the 78% who personally perform anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections)	22	45.5

Figure 1 Very important risk factors for the initiation of nutritional supplementation.

Abbreviation: AMD, age-related macular degeneration.

Figure 2 Reasons for patients refusing nutritional supplements.

Table 2 General opinion regarding efficacy of nutritional supplements in age-related macular degeneration

	Early/intermediate stages	Geographic atrophy stage	Neovascular atrophy stage
To slow progression	14/20 (14.5 versus 13.7)	10.2/20 (10.5 versus 9.9)	8.7/20 (8.8 versus 8.7)
To stop progression	8.2/20 (8.8 versus 7.6)	6.0/20 (6.5 versus 5.5)	5.0/20 (5.3 versus 4.7)
To reduce lesions, damage	8.5/20 (8.7 versus 8.2)	6.5/20 (6.5 versus 6.5)	6.1/20 (6.2 versus 6.0)

Notes: 1= very bad opinion; 20= excellent/best possible opinion. Numbers in parentheses are general ophthalmologist versus retinal specialist scores.

Figure 3 Important components in nutritional supplements.

Abbreviations: DHA, docosahexaenoic acid; DPA, docosapentaenoic acid: EPA, eicosapentaenoic acid.

Table 3 National differences in important components of nutritional supplements

Very important	France (n=32)	Germany (n=32)	Italy (n=30)	Spain (n=30)	United Kingdom (n=30)	Belgium (n=30)	Portugal (n=32)
Lutein	75.0%	90.6% (+)	70.0%	73.3%	83.3%	63.3%	81.3%
Omega-3	71.9%	78.1%	80.0%	66.7%	60.0%	66.7%	78.1%
Zeaxanthin	62.5%	78.1%	56.7%	63.3%	70.0%	66.7%	75.0%
Zinc	59.4%	56.3%	76.7% (+)	46.7%	60.0%	60.0%	46.9%
Vitamin E	43.8%	53.1%	83.3% (++)	40.0%	40.0%	33.3%	53.1%
Vitamin C	56.3%	59.4%	73.3% (++)	26.7% (−)	33.3%	33.3%	53.1%
Fatty acids	62.5% (+)	50.0%	60.0%	33.3%	20.0% (− −)	26.7% (−)	65.6% (+)
Vitamins (in general)	46.9%	56.3%	53.3%	43.3%	30.0%	30.0%	31.3%
Beta-carotene	31.3%	37.5%	70.0% (++)	36.7%	46.7%	30.0%	43.8%
Pigments	71.9% (++)	37.5%	40.0%	33.3%	50.0%	13.3% (− −)	34.4%
Docosahexaenoic acid	53.1%	31.3%	50.0%	43.3%	20.0% (−)	40.0%	43.8%
Eicosapentaenoic acid	37.5%	28.1%	43.3% (+)	16.7%	3.3% (− −)	33.3%	28.1%
Resveratrol	25.0%	15.6%	56.7% (++)	20.0%	26.7%	10.0% (−)	28.1%
Omega-6	15.6%	25.0%	40.0% (+)	36.7%	20.0%	16.7%	15.6%
Anthocyanins (blueberries)	25.0%	18.8%	53.5% (++)	23.3%	13.3%	13.3%	15.6%
Vitamin B	21.9%	21.9%	43.3% (++)	16.7%	6.7% (−)	10.0%	18.8%
Neoxanthin	15.6%	3.1% (− −)	56.7% (++)	26.7%	13.3%	6.7% (−)	18.8%
Astaxanthin	21.9%	6.3% (−)	43.3% (++)	26.7%	16.7%	3.3% (−)	15.6%
Vitamin D	34.4%**	15.6%	16.7%	6.7%	3.3% (−)	3.3% (−)	12.5%

Notes: “How important are each of the following components when choosing a food supplement product for age-related macular degeneration patients?” Values significantly greater or lower, respectively, than the group average are indicated as follows: +/− = P<0.05, ++/− − = P<0.01, Fisher–Snedecor test.

Figure 4 Important criteria in the decision-making process (1= not important at all; 20= extremely important).