Patient-reported outcomes and visual acuity after 12 months of anti-VEGF-treatment for sight-threatening diabetic macular edema in a real world setting

Aims To examine objective visual acuity measured with ETDRS, retinal thickness (OCT), patient reported outcome and describe levels of glycated hemoglobin and its association with the effects on visual acuity in patients treated with anti-VEGF for visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME) during 12 months in a real world setting. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 58 patients (29 females and 29 males; mean age, 68 years) with type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed with DME were included. Medical data and two questionnaires were collected; an eye-specific (NEI VFQ-25) and a generic health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were used. Results The total patient group had significantly improved visual acuity and reduced retinal thickness at 4 months and remains at 12 months follow up. Thirty patients had significantly improved visual acuity, and 27 patients had no improved visual acuity at 12 months. The patients with improved visual acuity had significantly improved scores for NEI VFQ-25 subscales including general health, general vision, near activities, distance activities, and composite score, but no significant changes in scores were found in the group without improvements in visual acuity. Conclusions Our study revealed that anti-VEGF treatment improved visual acuity and central retinal thickness as well as patient-reported outcome in real world 12 months after treatment start.

Blutsafts inverkan på blodets hemoglobinvärde

The aim of the study was to test whether or not menstruating women’s levels of haemoglobin changed after three weeks consumption of Blutsaft. Previous studies on nutrition supplements including iron have shown increased haemoglobin levels. On Blutsaft, however, there are no studies carried out and published. The participants in this pilot study were menstruating women, with haemoglobin levels between 105 and 125 g/l at the initial part of the study. Haemoglobin concentrations were measured by capillary blood samples before and after three weeks recommended daily consumption of Blutsaft. Four participants completed the study and the result showed an increase in haemoglobin concentration of between 7 and 17 g/l., with a median value at 16,75 g/l. Despite the few participants who completed the study a significant increase in haemoglobin concentration, after the consumption of Blutsaft, can be determined.