Why carry out this study?

Diabetic macular edema (DME), a common complication of diabetes, is effectively treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies, which have shown significant efficacy in improving visual function.

The medical literature lacks consensus on the predictive value of impaired renal function and elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels for the response to intravitreal anti-VEGF in the treatment of DME.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of baseline HbA1c levels and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) on treatment outcomes in patients with DME receiving anti-VEGF injections in routine clinical practice.

What was learned from the study?

The visual and anatomical improvement in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF for DME seems to be independent of baseline HbA1c level and GFR.

The study revealed that there is no correlation between baseline HbA1c level and GFR with the functional and anatomical outcomes in patients with DME receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF.

The findings highlight the importance of recognizing the independence of treatment response from these factors and provide valuable guidance for clinicians in determining the frequency and timing of anti-VEGF reinjections in DME patients.