Geographic access disparities exist for nAMD clinical trial sites

In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, 42 trials on neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) across 829 unique clinical trial sites in the United States were identified.

When the driving distance to the nearest clinical trial site was >60 miles, there was a significant association with rural location and Midwest and South compared to the Northeast region, and to some college or an Associate’s degree compared to a Bachelor’s degree.

Census tracts with a higher percentage of blacks, Hispanics, and Asians had lower odds of traveling >60 miles to the nearest site compared to whites. Lower odds were also associated with a lower percentage of the population <200% of the federal poverty level. Similar associations were found when driving distance took >60 minutes.

Reference
Soares RR, Gopal AD, Parikh D, et al. Geographic access disparities of clinical trials in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the United States. Am J Ophthalmol. 2021; DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2021.04.001