Depression of Late Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients in Korea

The aim of study was to investigate the relationship between depression and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea treated with intravitreal ranibizumab.

This was a cross-sectional study. This study included 107 patients diagnosed with AMD treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. All patients answered the Korean version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-K), and the prevalence of depression was evaluated. The patients from 1 center were classified into groups with and without depression according to GDS-K. Visual acuity (VA), duration, bilaterality, history of previous treatment for AMD, and comorbidities were assessed and compared between groups. The correlations between GDS-K and other variables were investigated.

The prevalence of depression was 26.2% with AMD treated with intravitreal ranibizumab in this study. In subanalysis, the 23 depressed patients (33.3%) were older (P = 0.022) than the nondepressed. Positive correlations were observed between GDS-K and age, VA of injected eye, VA of better eye, duration of AMD, and the number of previous treatments for AMD.

This is the first study evaluating the relationship between depression and AMD in Koreans treated with intravitreal ranibizumab. The prevalence of depression in AMD is substantial and similar to those in previous reports. Interventions to diagnose and treat depression in AMD patients are necessary.