Follow-up phone calls may increase adherence to anti-VEGF regimens
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Follow-up phone calls may reduce nonadherence rates in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for various retinal diseases, according to a study.
“A small but statistically significant drop in the rate of nonadherence is seen in the usage of the follow-up phone call system,” Meera D. Sivalingam, MD, said at the virtual Wills Eye Conference. “Adherence to these vigorous treatment regimens has proved difficult for patients and physicians alike.”
Sivalingam and co-authors conducted a retrospective study of 9,690 patients and 84,613 injections between January 2016 and September 2019. Patients with a history of wet age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion were included. Following the integration of the system, patients received an individual call immediately after a nonadherent visit to encourage rescheduling.
Researchers followed two groups that began injection regimens before and after the integration of the phone system.
Before the integration of the follow-up phone call system, patients had a nonadherence rate of 5.5% and 2,645 injections compared with a nonadherence rate of 5.1% and 1,872 injections after integration (P = .02).
The average patient age at baseline was 72.9 years. In patients younger than 75 years at baseline, the nonadherence rate dropped statistically significantly from 7.6% to 5.7% (P = .02) after implementation of the follow-up system. However, a statistically insignificant higher rate of nonadherence followed introduction of the system in patients older than 75 years.
“The system appeared to be more effective depending on what baseline characteristics patients had, possibly age, gender and disease state,” Sivalingam said.
Further reduction of nonadherence rates might require more comprehensive intervention, she said.
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Sivalingam MD, et al. Effect of follow-up phone call system on non-adherence rates in patients receiving intravitreal injections. Presented at: Wills Eye Conference; March 12, 2021 (virtual meeting).
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