Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41366137›Full record

Observational studyJapanese journal of ophthalmology2026

Factors associated with patient-initiated discontinuation of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for diabetic macular edema: a real-world study in Japan.

Tetsuya Hasegawa, Rino Yagi, Misaki Hirato, Hirotaka Fujita, Tomomi Sato, Yugo Hiranuma, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Toshikatsu Kaburaki, Akihiro Kakehashi, Suguru Nakagawa

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Japanese journal of ophthalmology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Tetsuya HasegawaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Rino YagiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Misaki HiratoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Hirotaka FujitaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Tomomi SatoDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Yugo HiranumaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Yoshiaki TanakaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Toshikatsu KaburakiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Akihiro KakehashiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan.
Suguru NakagawaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Saitama Medical Center, Jichi Medical University, Saitama-shi, Saitama-ken, 330-8503, Japan. snakagawa-tky@umin.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9938-4881

Funding

Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 24K12750Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 25K12854
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo evaluate real-world adherence to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy among Japanese patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) and identify demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic factors associated with treatment discontinuation. STUDY

designRetrospective, observational cohort study.

methodsThis study included 380 treatment-naïve patients with center-involved DME. Patients were categorized into continuation (those who maintained therapy) and self-discontinuation (those who discontinued therapy after at least one follow-up visit) groups. All patients were treated under a treat-and-extend regimen with one of five anti-VEGF agents (ranibizumab, aflibercept, brolucizumab, faricimab, or ranibizumab biosimilar) between January 2017 and December 2023. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified independent predictors of treatment discontinuation. Pre- and post-treatment visual acuity and anatomic outcomes were assessed.

resultsAmong 380 patients, 55 (14.5%) self-discontinued therapy. Younger age and poorer baseline best-corrected visual acuity were significantly associated with treatment discontinuation in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, faricimab use increased the risk of discontinuation, whereas aflibercept use was associated with better adherence.

conclusionThe findings of this study underscore the importance of individualized patient management strategies to enhance long-term adherence to anti-VEGF therapy among patients with DME.

Indexed as

Angiogenesis InhibitorsDiabetic RetinopathyMacular EdemaVisual AcuityAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansIntravitreal InjectionsJapanMaleMiddle AgedRanibizumabReceptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorRecombinant Fusion ProteinsRetrospective StudiesafliberceptAngiogenesis InhibitorsRanibizumabReceptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth FactorRecombinant Fusion ProteinsVascular Endothelial Growth Factor AAnti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapyDiabetic macular edemaReal-world studySelf-discontinuationTreatment adherence

Identifiers

PMID41366137

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.