Racial, Ethnic, and Insurance-Based Disparities Upon Initiation of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Diabetic Macular Edema in the US

Abstract

Purpose: This study characterizes the association of risk factors including race, ethnicity, and insurance status with presenting visual acuity (VA) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity in patients initiating treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for diabetic macular edema (DME).

Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Participants: The Academy Intelligent Research in Sight (IRIS) Registry database was queried for patients who initiated anti-VEGF injection treatment for DME between 2012 and 2020 (n = 203 707).

Methods: Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to understand how race, ethnicity, insurance status, and geographic location were associated with baseline features.

Main outcome measures: Visual acuity and DR severity.

Results: Patients on Medicare and private insurance presented with higher baseline VA compared with patients on Medicaid (median of 2.31 and 4.17 greater Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Scale [ETDRS] letters, respectively P < 0.01). White and non-Hispanic patients presented with better VA compared with their counterparts (median of 0.68 and 2.53 greater ETDRS letters, respectively; P < 0.01). Black and Hispanic patients presented with a worse baseline DR severity compared with White and non-Hispanic patients (odds ratio, 1.23 and 1.71, respectively; P < 0.01).

Conclusions: There are ethnic and insurance-based disparities in VA and disease severity upon initiation of anti-VEGF therapy for DME treatment. Public health initiatives could improve timely initiation of treatment.

Keywords: anti-vascular endothelial growth factor; diabetes; diabetic macular edema; diabetic retinopathy; ethnic; health disparities; injections; insurance; racial.