Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32572607›Full record

SynthesisGraefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie2020

Systematic review: non-adherence and non-persistence in intravitreal treatment.

Christoph Ehlken, Focke Ziemssen, Nicole Eter, Ines Lanzl, Hakan Kaymak, Albrecht Lommatzsch, Alexander K Schuster

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 48 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. The ideal intravitreal injection setting: office, ambulatory surgery room or operating theatre? A narrative review and international survey.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2023
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
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  7. Observational
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  14. Nonadherence to anti-VEGF intravitreal injections in patients with diabetic macular edema : The names of the authors.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2025
    Review
  15. Article
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  17. Long-term visual outcomes of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with anti-VEGF therapy lost to follow-up.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Christoph EhlkenKlinik für Ophthalmologie des Universitätsklinikums Schleswig-Holsteins, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany. christoph.ehlken@uksh.de.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7388-7173
Focke ZiemssenCenter for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karl University, Tübingen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3873-0581
Nicole EterKlinik für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5617-346X
Ines LanzlChiemsee Augen Tagesklinik, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany.
Hakan KaymakMakula-Netzhaut-Zentrum, Düsseldorf-Oberkassel, Germany.
Albrecht LommatzschAugenzentrum am St. Franziskus-Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Alexander K SchusterAugenklinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsmedizin Mainz, Mainz, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6304-3599

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIntravitreal injection of VEGF inhibitors has become the standard of care for different macular diseases within the last years resulting in improved visual outcomes. Under real-life conditions, however, the necessity for frequent retreatments and reexaminations poses a burden for patients and treatment centers. Non-adherence and non-persistence to intravitreal treatment may lead to inferior clinical outcomes, and knowledge of contributing factors is crucial to improve adherence. This systematic review analyzes current literature for potential factors involved in non-adherence and non-persistence.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Embase including three different aspects of intravitreal injection therapy: (1) diseases with intravitreal injections as treatment, (2) intravitreal injection, and (3) aspects of therapy adherence or therapy persistence. Data from identified quantitative studies were further extracted and grouped according to WHO criteria (condition, socio-economy, therapy, patient, and health system). The methodological quality of identified studies was graded. Identified qualitative studies (i.e., interviews) were descriptively analyzed and their findings narratively reported.

resultsTwenty-four publications were included. In 16 of those publications, a quantitative data analysis was conducted, analyzing factors associated with non-adherence. Worse visual acuity at baseline and unfavorable development of visual acuity, higher age, and greater distance to the treatment center were associated with non-adherence, while there was inconsistent evidence for an association of comorbidity. In qualitative studies, high follow-up/treatment burden, fear and anxiety, disappointed patient expectations, and lack of motivation to continue treatment were reported as reasons for non-persistence.

conclusionsKnowledge of potential barriers in IVT treatment may improve adherence and potentially clinical results. Improvements can be achieved particularly in the healthcare complex (organizational improvements) and the "patient" complex by establishing realistic expectations. Recurrent education of the patient may be necessary.

Indexed as

Angiogenesis InhibitorsRanibizumabHumansIntravitreal InjectionsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AVisual AcuityAngiogenesis InhibitorsRanibizumabVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAdherenceAMDDMEIntravitrealPersistenceVEGF

Identifiers

PMID32572607
PMCPMC7550304

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.