A Review of the Use of Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Drugs at the Eye Foundation Centre for the Prevention of Blindness, Nigeria

Aims: To describe the sociodemographic details and indications for the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections at the Eye Foundation Centres in Nigeria.

Study Design: Retrospective, observational analysis.

Place and Duration of Study: Eye Foundation Hospitals in Lagos, Ijebu-Imushin and Abuja, Nigeria between January 2011 and December 2014.

Methods: Records of all anti-VEGF injections given were assessed. All consecutive cases were taken in proportion seen in the 4 centres. Age, sex, occupation, diagnoses and types of injection were recorded in the data sheet prepared for the study.

Results: This study included 1072 eyes of 540 patients. Mean age was 60.37(12.74) standard deviation years. The age range is from 10 – 92 years. 326(60.4%) males and females 214(39.6%) were seen. Patients that presented were mostly currently employed 40.8%, previously in paid job 25.8% and businessmen and women 24.5%. Total injections were 2443, given during the study period. Anti-VEGF agents used were Bevacizumab (2278; 93.2%) and Ranibizumab (165; 6.8%). Indications for injection were: proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) 27.4%, retinal vein occlusion (RVO) 17.6% and vitreous haemorrhage (VH) due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy and sickle cell retinopathy 10.6%. There was an association between sex and disease (p < 0.001) and age and disease (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The use of anti-VEGF injections are on the increase especially bevacizumab. The most common indications are proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and VH. The treatment was done more for males, middle class and the rich.