Age may affect outcome of anti-VEGF injections in patients with DME

A difference in improvement in central subfield thickness (CST) was noted between older and younger patients with diabetic macula edema (DME) treated with anti-VEGF injections, according to a study.

 In this retrospective cohort study, 210 eyes of 121 patients were grouped based on age (≤60 years, n = 48; and >60 years, n = 73). Aflibercept and ranibizumab injections were used in 88.1% and 11.9%, respectively.

After treatment, there was an improvement in mean BCVA and a decrease in mean CST.

There was no significant difference in the improvement of mean BCVA between the age groups.

There was a difference of >30 μm in mean CST improvement on average between the age groups, favoring younger patients, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Reference
Alshalan HA, Arevalo JF, Alomary SI, et al. Effect of age on response to anti-VEGF agents in patients with center involving diabetic macular edema in a tertiary hospital. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2022;8(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s40942-022-00434-9. PMID: 36514180; PMCID: PMC9746215.