Diabetic Macular Edema Diagnosis and Treatment in the Real World: An Analysis of Medicare Claims Data (2008 to 2010)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To characterize vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor treatment patterns in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) using a Medicare Standard Analytic Files Part B or Outpatient Claims database to understand treatment frequency and DME persistence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of treatment patterns for patients diagnosed with DME receiving their first anti-VEGF injection was performed. RESULTS: The average number of anti-VEGF injection claims for DME per patient rose from 3.1 to 4.6 per year (mean: 4.2). Within 1 year of diagnosis, 46% of patients received their final DME diagnosis (mean: 1.9 anti-VEGF claims), and 65% of patients received their final anti-VEGF treatment for DME. Patients who received treatment for DME through years 2 and 3 submitted a mean of four and 7.2 anti-VEGF claims, respectively. CONCLUSION: VEGF inhibitor treatment was less frequent than in landmark trials, but did resolve DME in a proportion of patients.