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Economic and Medical Burden of Non-Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Germany: A Retrospective
Alexander K Schuster1, Lilia Leisle2, Nils Picker2
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Introduction:
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among the elderly in higher-income countries. This study aimed to explore the medical and economic burden of non-exudative AMD patients living in Germany.
Methods:
German claims data (AOK PLUS) were utilized in this retrospective analysis. Prevalent non-exudative AMD only patients were compared to (i) non-exudative AMD patients with a concomitant exudative AMD diagnosis and (ii) propensity score matched non-AMD controls in terms of patient characteristics and eye-related diagnostic/monitoring patterns during baseline (in 2020) as well as in terms of the healthcare resource use and associated costs during the follow-up (in 2021).
Results:
The sample comprised 25,439 patients diagnosed with non-exudative AMD only and 7,153 diagnosed with both types of AMD (mean age: 79/81 years | female: 64.3%/64.5%). The total health insurance costs for non-exudative AMD only patients were estimated to be 6,500 € per person-year (pPY), which was about 500 € pPY higher than in matched non-AMD controls. The total costs further increased by about 3,500 € pPY in the presence of concomitant exudative AMD. Also, the healthcare resources (especially related to ophthalmological care) were utilized more frequently by non-exudative AMD patients compared to non-AMD controls, and even more so by patients with concomitant exudative AMD.
Conclusion:
Non-exudative AMD patients were associated with an increased medical and economic burden compared to non-AMD individuals living in Germany.
