28Apr 2022
Healthcare expenditure of intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors compared with dexamethasone implant for diabetic macular oedema

Healthcare expenditure of intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors compared with dexamethasone implant for diabetic macular oedema

The aim of this study was to estimate the 1‐year costs associated with treating diabetic macular oedema (DME) patients using current intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (anti‐VEGF) biologics compared with the dexamethasone implant. The average injections per patient per year for the Naive group (bevacizumab), Switch group (aflibercept) and dexamethasone were 9.5, 9.1 and 3.0 respectively. From a healthcare perspective, the 1‐year costs for the Naive group were 15% lower (bevacizumab, €3619), and for the Switch group, 23% higher (aflibercept) compared with dexamethasone . From a primary healthcare perspective, the dexamethasone as a first‐line DME treatment may increase economic costs in settings where bevacizumab is used off‐label. Treating resistant DMEwith dexamethasone may reduce the costs and treatment burden compared with switching to aflibercept.

  • #ophthalmology

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