Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40329243›Full record

ArticleBMC ophthalmology2025

Predictive factors for adherence to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in Palestinian patients with diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, and age-related macular degeneration: a retrospective cohort study.

Hamza Abualhasan, Ithar M Beshtawi, Mohammad Noor, Othman Mustafa, Salem Hantoli

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC ophthalmology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Hamza Abualhasan *Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. Hamza.abualhasan@najah.edu.
Ithar M Beshtawi *Optometry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine.
Mohammad Noor *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine.
Othman Mustafa *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine.
Salem Hantoli *Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, West Bank, Palestine.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe burden of retinal vascular and degenerative diseases on patients and healthcare systems can be significant if patients do not complete scheduled intravitreal injections. This study aimed to identify the factors that influence adherence with follow-up injections in patients with diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal vein occlusion receiving intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment.

methodsThis study utilized data from patients who received intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections between 2022 and 2023 at An-Najah National University Hospital. Patient information, such as demographic information, number of injections administered, and details of follow-up visits, was obtained from the hospital's electronic records. When electronic records lacked certain information, patients or their relatives were contacted to provide the missing data. Data entry and analysis were performed using chi-square tests and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. A p-value ≤ 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

resultsA total of 107 patients, 43 (40.2%) were adherent, while 64 (59.8%) were non-adherent. Sex was significantly associated with adherence (P = 0.035), with females more likely to adhere. Planned number of injections correlated with adherence (P = 0.004), as those receiving fewer injections were more adherent. Cost problems negatively impacted adherence (P = 0.016), with non-adherent patients more frequently reporting financial barriers. Positive patient expectations for vision improvement were strongly associated with adherence (P = 0.003). Mobility problems influenced adherence (P = 0.049), as those without mobility issues adhered more. Physical assistance from relatives significantly improved adherence (P = 0.036). Factors not significantly influencing adherence included comorbidities, education level, and insurance status.

conclusionOur study revealed that 60% of patients did not adhere to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment injections. Factors influencing adherence included the planned number of injections, cost problems, indication for injections, sex, need for physical assistance, and mobility problems. It is crucial to increase awareness of these factors to prevent complications such as blindness. Raising awareness could lead to improved adherence rates, better treatment outcomes, and positive impacts on patient and community health.

Indexed as

Angiogenesis InhibitorsBevacizumabDiabetic RetinopathyMacular DegenerationRanibizumabRetinal Vein OcclusionAgedAged, 80 and overAptamers, NucleotideArabsFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIntravitreal InjectionsMaleMiddle AgedAngiogenesis InhibitorsAptamers, NucleotideBevacizumabRanibizumabVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAnti-VEGFIntravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injectionsPatient adherenceRetinopathy

Identifiers

PMID40329243
PMCPMC12054268

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.