Background and objective: To determine the potential impact on visual outcomes of delayed treatment initiation in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
Patients and methods: Post hoc analysis of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment-naïve patients with nAMD from HARBOR. Time to treatment was defined as first ranibizumab injection date minus screening date. Comparisons were made between the prompt (≤ 6 days) versus delayed (> 10 days) treatment groups. Main outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change over time, BCVA, number of ranibizumab injections, and proportion of 3-line gainers/losers.
Results: In HARBOR, more than 50% of patients received their first injection within 7 days of screening, with mean (median) time to treatment of 4.6 (5) and 15.9 (14) days for the prompt and delayed treatment groups, respectively. Mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) BCVA change from baseline to Month 24 was 9.1 (7.4-10.8) and 8.8 (6.7-10.8) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters in the prompt (n = 395) and delayed (n = 230) treatment groups, respectively. Mean (95% CI) total number of ranibizumab injections for the as-needed arms was 12.4 (11.6-13.3) and 11.4 (10.3-12.4) for the prompt and delayed treatment groups, respectively.
Conclusion: In HARBOR, time from screening to first ranibizumab injection did not seem to significantly affect mean BCVA change or number of injections. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:62-69.].
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