Costs of Managing Diabetic Macular Edema With Good Visual Acuity With Aflibercept, Laser, or Observation: DRCR Retina Network Protocol V

Abstract

Purpose: Because eyes with center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) and good baseline visual acuity (VA) showed no difference in VA loss when managed initially with observation, laser, or aflibercept, understanding the estimated costs of these strategies to the US population is relevant for health care planning.

Design: Preplanned cost analysis from a randomized controlled trial (DRCR Retina Network Protocol V).

Methods: Total costs for managing participants with CI-DME and good baseline VA assigned to aflibercept (n = 226), laser (n = 240), or observation (n = 236) during the 2-year multicenter trial were calculated. Observation or laser groups initiated aflibercept if VA decreased. The aflibercept group received injections up to every 4 weeks. Using epidemiological data and extrapolating costs, 10-year costs of care for all persons with CI-DME and good baseline VA throughout the United States were caluclated.

Results: Assuming that all patients in the United States with CI-DME and good baseline VA received aflibercept initially, 10-year costs were projected to be $28.80 billion compared with $14.42 billion if initially receiving laser treatment or $15.70 billion if initially observed, with aflibercept added if VA worsened in the laser or observation arms.

Conclusions: Similar VA outcomes on average are obtained by initially managing CI-DME and good baseline VA with laser or observation strategies instead of immediately using aflibercept. Although any 1 of these 3 strategies might be warranted depending on an individual's specific circumstances, on a societal level, cost savings might be achieved with these first 2 approaches.