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Adverse event rates low in AMD patients who take anti-VEGFs
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Patients treated with anti-VEGFs for age-related macular degeneration had a low rate of adverse events that was comparable to the rate in the general population in Singapore, a study found.
The retrospective population-based study included 1,182 patients with AMD who received at least one intravitreal anti-VEGF injection between 2008 and 2011. Mean follow-up was 2 years, and mean number of injections was 4.67.
Most patients (1,011, 85.53%) received Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech), 98 patients (8.29%) received Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech), and 73 patients (6.18%) received both agents.
Thirteen patients with baseline myocardial infarction and 21 with stroke were excluded, leaving 1,148 patients for the final analysis.
After anti-VEGF treatment was started, 19 patients experienced myocardial infarction, 16 patients experienced stroke and 43 patients died, for a total of 78 events in 68 patients. Ten patients experienced more than one adverse event.
Sixty-five of the patients who experienced adverse events had received bevacizumab.
The age-adjusted incidence rate per 100,000 person-years was 350.2 for myocardial infarction, 299.3 for stroke and 778.9 for mortality.
Weighted incidence rates in the general population were comparable: 427.1 per 100,000 person-years for myocardial infarction, 340.4 for stroke and 921.3 for mortality. – by Matt Hasson
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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