Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections increase adverse events in diabetics: JAMA

Among patients with diabetes, intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were independently linked to a greater risk of systemic adverse effects, says an article published in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Currently, the majority of treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR) is anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) medications. Although effective, evidence on their systemic safety are still lacking, especially in patient populations at high risk. In order to investigate the systemic safety of intravitreal anti-VEGF medicines among patients with diabetes, Sidra Zafar and colleagues undertook this study.

This study examined the Corporate Data Warehouse, a sizable patient database housed inside the US Veteran Health Affairs, retrospectively and longitudinally. Between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, all patients with type 2 diabetes who were 18 years of age or older and seen at any Veterans Affairs medical facility in the US were recorded. On incident systemic adverse events that occurred in this patient group between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017, data were then retrieved. Both those with diabetes who had anti-VEGF injections and those who did not were included. Patients who got an intravitreal injection between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, as well as those with a history of past systemic adverse effects, were excluded. Data were examined between October 2023 and March of 2019.