Loss to follow-up interventions still lacking in patients with eye diseases

There is no single intervention proven to be effective in reducing loss to follow-up or fragmented follow-up episodes (LTFU) in patients with age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular edema, according to a study.

This may result in worse than expected clinical outcomes, especially when comparing real world data to clinical trials.

Using a literature search, 10 studies evaluating interventions designed to reduce loss to follow up were identified and analyzed.

Telephone calls aimed to help with follow-up scheduling were found to improve LTFU in older African American patients with diabetic retinopathy living in urban areas, but the same intervention is understudied in other eye diseases in patients with other demographics.

“A standardized definition of LTFU, as well as testing interventions across broad age, geography, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic lines. Longitudinal data would also add credence to the efficacy of purported interventions,” concluded the authors

Reference
Muste JC, Russell MW, Iyer AI, et al. Interventions to reduce loss to follow up in common retinal pathology: A systematic review. Eur J Ophthalmol. 2022;11206721221145058. doi: 10.1177/11206721221145058. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36537123.