Skipping Doctor Visits Can Worsen Age-Related Macula Degeneration (AMD)
A new study in JAMA Ophthalmology corroborates a point any doctor could tell you: patients who don't seek care fare worse than those who do.
A research team evaluated the records of 1,178 AMD patients who were originally examined for a clinical trial. Thes patients were scheduled to return to their doctor once every four weeks. The researchers classified the patients as on time (visits every 28 to 35 days), late (every 36-60 days) and very late (more than 60 days between visits). They compared data between the patients' baselines and last doctor visits and found those with a less-than-stellar record experienced worse visual outcomes.
The researchers found that after only six months, each missed visit was associated with an average visual acuity letter score decline of 0.7. Compared with patients who were on time, those who averaged between 36 to 60 days and more than 60 days between visits lost 6.1 and 12.5 letters, respectively.
JAMA Ophthalmol. February 6, 2020.
A research team evaluated the records of 1,178 AMD patients who were originally examined for a clinical trial. Thes patients were scheduled to return to their doctor once every four weeks. The researchers classified the patients as on time (visits every 28 to 35 days), late (every 36-60 days) and very late (more than 60 days between visits). They compared data between the patients' baselines and last doctor visits and found those with a less-than-stellar record experienced worse visual outcomes.
The researchers found that after only six months, each missed visit was associated with an average visual acuity letter score decline of 0.7. Compared with patients who were on time, those who averaged between 36 to 60 days and more than 60 days between visits lost 6.1 and 12.5 letters, respectively.
JAMA Ophthalmol. February 6, 2020.