• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Evaluation of care with intravitreal aflibercept treatment for UK patients with diabetic macular oedema: DRAKO study 24-month real-world outcomes
  • Contributor: Sivaprasad, Sobha; Ghanchi, Faruque; Kelly, Simon P.; Kotagiri, Ajay; Talks, James; Scanlon, Peter; McGoey, Hellen; Nolan, Andrew; Saddiq, Moneeb; Napier, Jackie
  • Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023
  • Published in: Eye, 37 (2023) 13, Seite 2753-2760
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02409-y
  • ISSN: 0950-222X; 1476-5454
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: Abstract Background/ Objectives DRAKO (NCT02850263) was a 24-month, prospective, observational, multi-centre cohort study that enrolled patients diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema (DMO) including central involvement. The study aimed to evaluate standard of care intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL) treatment in the UK. This analysis describes the 12-month outcomes for patients with prior anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for DMO other than IVT-AFL (C2), and 2-year outcomes for both anti-VEGF treatment–naïve patients (C1) and C2 patients. Methods Study eyes were treated with IVT-AFL as per local standard of care. Mean changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in ETDRS letters and central subfield thickness (CST) were stratified by baseline factors. Changes in diabetic retinopathy assessments, glycated haemoglobin A1c levels and vision-related quality of life (QoL) were evaluated alongside numbers of injections administered and safety outcomes. Results For C1, mean (SD) changes from baseline in BCVA of +0.7 (12.7) letters and CST of –123.3 (104.3) µm were observed at Month 24. For C2, mean (SD) changes from baseline for BCVA of + 0.2 (10.2) letters and –0.3 (13.0) letters, and CST of –79.1 (137.6) µm and −91.6 (132.9) µm, were observed at 12 and 24 months, respectively. In Year 2, C1 and C2 patients received a mean of 3.7 and 4.3 injections, respectively. Conclusions Year 2 results indicate that IVT-AFL is an effective treatment for DMO in real-world UK clinical practice, despite relatively low injection numbers. The high baseline visual acuity and QoL scores were maintained and there was further improvement in anatomical outcomes.