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Epidemiology, treatment pattern and health care utilization of myopic choroidal neovascularization: a population based study

  • Clinical Investigation
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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence and incidence of myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in Taiwan, including the health care utilization and treatment-associated costs.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study using existing data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance claims database to identify patients who had a diagnosis of myopic CNV recorded from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011. The prevalence of myopic CNV was monitored during this period, and the frequency and cost of both treatment visits and monitoring visits were analyzed for 2 years following diagnosis.

Results

The prevalence of myopic CNV was 0.017%. In total, 9068 patients with myopic CNV were identified, 12.3% (n = 1111) of whom were treated. Of those treated, 72.0% (n = 800) received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections (IVI); the remainder received either photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (vPDT), laser photocoagulation, or a combination of therapies. IVI was associated with the largest number of treatment visits as well as a higher administrative (non-drug) cost per treatment visit (a mean of USD 57.18). vPDT alone was associated with a higher overall cost per treatment visit and more monitoring visits than IVI or laser photocoagulation. Costs for monitoring visits were highest for IVI.

Conclusions

The prevalence of myopic CNV was lower than that reported in previous studies, possibly because of differences in age distribution in the populations studied. The frequencies of treatment administered were similar to those reported in previous studies; however, a cost-effectiveness comparison could not be made owing to lack of data in previous studies.

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Acknowledgements

Editorial support were provided by Dr. Libby Beake and Dr. Noelle L O’Regan, PharmaGenesis London.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Ming-Chin Yang & Elise Chia-Hui Tan

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, 5, Fu-Hsin Street, Kwei-Shan, 333, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Yen-Po Chen & Chi-Chun Lai

  3. College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

    Yen-Po Chen & Chi-Chun Lai

  4. Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland

    Claudia Leteneux

  5. Novartis Co., Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan

    Erin Chang & Carol HY Chu

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  1. Ming-Chin Yang
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Correspondence to Chi-Chun Lai.

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Conflicts of interest

M.-C. Yang, Grants (Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharma AG); Y.-P. Chen, None; E. C.-H. Tan, Grants (Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharma AG); C. Leteneux, Employee (Novartis Pharma AG); E. Chang, Employee (Novartis Co., Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan); C. H.-Y. Chu, Employee (Novartis Co., Ltd, Taipei, Taiwan); C.-C. Lai, None.

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Yang, MC., Chen, YP., Tan, E.CH. et al. Epidemiology, treatment pattern and health care utilization of myopic choroidal neovascularization: a population based study. Jpn J Ophthalmol 61, 159–168 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-016-0496-3

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