Is age‐related macular degeneration a manifestation of systemic disease? New prospects for early intervention and treatment

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common vision‐threatening condition affecting the elderly. AMD shares common risk factors and processes, including vascular and inflammatory pathways, with many systemic disorders. Associations have been reported between AMD and hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, dyslipidaemia, chronic kidney disease and neurodegenerative disorders. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that individuals with AMD are also at risk of systemic diseases such as stroke. In this review, we summarize the latest evidence to support the notion that AMD is an ocular manifestation of systemic disease processes, and discuss the potential systemic side effects of ocular AMD therapy of which general physicians should be aware. Recent genetic discoveries and understanding of the pathogenic pathways in AMD in relation to systemic disorders are also highlighted.     

Self‐management education for persons with arthritis: Managing comorbidity and eliminating health disparities

Objective

To compare short‐term and long‐term effectiveness of the Arthritis Self‐Help Course (ASHC) and the Chronic Disease Self‐Management Program (CDSMP) for persons with arthritis concerning health care use, health‐related quality of life, health behaviors, and arthritis self‐efficacy.

Methods

Forty‐eight workshops were randomized to the ASHC (n = 26) or CDSMP (n = 22). A total of 416 individuals, including 365 African Americans, participated. The mean age for each group was 64 years, mean years of education was 11.7, mean number of chronic conditions was 4, and 75–80% of participants in each group were female. Multivariate statistical tests were used to assess effectiveness within and between programs for all workshop participants and African Americans.

Results

At 4 months all ASHC participants including African Americans, had significant improvements (P ≤ 0.05) in self‐efficacy, stretching and strengthening exercises, aerobic exercises, and general health. All CDSMP participants had statistically significant improvements in self‐efficacy, disability, pain, and general health. African American CDSMP participants showed statistically significant improvements in general health. Trends toward improvement (P = 0.051–0.100) were shown in 5 variables among African American CDSMP participants and in 4 variables among all CDSMP participants. Statistically significant differences between the 2 programs at 4 months were seen in pain and disability in both groups. The CDSMP produced stronger results. Significant results at 1 year within and between programs were minimal for both groups.

Conclusion

When populations with arthritis and multiple comorbid conditions are targeted, the CDSMP may be most cost effective.     

Ranibizumab and conbercept for treating wet age-related macular degeneration in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of ranibizumab and conbercept on wet age-related macular degeneration.Methods:Randomized controlled trials comparing ranibizumab and conbercept in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration were searched in the PubMed, Medline, EMbase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang databases, and Weipu Journal. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality. Data analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 software for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 16 randomized controlled trials, including 1018 patients, were included, and the results showed that the effect of ranibizumab on uncorrected visual acuity was not significantly different from that of conbercept (Mean difference [MD] = -.03, 95% Confidence interval [CI] [-.10-.05], P = .47), and there was no significant difference between the two drugs in the effect on best-corrected visual acuity (MD = .00, 95% CI [-.02-.03], P = .73). The effect of conbercept on intraocular pressure was better than that of ranibizumab (MD = 1.61, 95% CI [1.05-2.17], P < .001). The effect of ranibizumab on central macular thickness was not significantly different from that of conbercept (MD = 1.31, 95% CI [-3.81-6.43], P = .62). Conbercept had a better inhibitory effect on choroidal neovascularization than ranibizumab (MD = .49, 95% CI [.32-.76], P = .001).Conclusion:The effects of ranibizumab on uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, and central macular thickness were not significantly different from those of conbercept. Conbercept is associated with a lower risk of increased intraocular pressure and regression of choroidal neovascularization compared with ranibizumab.     

The Y402H variant of complement factor H is associated with age‐related macular degeneration but not with diabetic retinal disease in the Go‐DARTS study

Aims The Y402H variant of complement factor H (CFH) is associated with risk of age‐related macular degeneration (ARMD). In common with ARMD, diabetic retinal disease also appears to involve complement activation. The aim was to investigate the impact of Y402H on both retinal pathologies in patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) undergoing systematic eye screening. Methods Patients with T2DM (n = 2350) were genotyped for the CFH Y402H variant. The association of genotype with retinal disease was determined in both retrospective and prospective models. Results The retrospective study demonstrated that the HH genotype was associated with an age‐adjusted odds ratio of 7.4 for ARMD (P = 2.9 × 10^?11). In a longitudinal study in the disease‐free cohort, the age‐adjusted hazard ratio was 2.8 (P = 2.4 × 10^?7). The life‐time hazard ratio was 3.4 (P = 2.1 × 10^?16). We found no association of Y402H with development of referable diabetic retinal disease. Conclusion The ARMD‐associated Y402H variant in CFH does not appear to be associated with diabetic retinal disease, although complement activation is involved in the pathoaetiology of both conditions.     

Direct‐acting antivirals for HCV treatment in older patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

The advent of highly effective and well‐tolerated direct antiviral antivirals (DAAs) has dramatically changed the landscape of chronic hepatitis C. The effect of DAAs in older adults is difficult to determine since patients aged ≥ 65 years were too few in most clinical trials and data mainly come from observational studies. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DAAs in patients aged 65 and older. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, HCV‐Trials.com databases were searched for literature published until 1 December 2017. English language articles reporting results of phase 2 or 3 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), single‐arm clinical trials (SATs) and observational studies were included in the final analysis. All studies included subgroups of older patients and compared their outcomes with younger individuals. By using a random‐effects or fixed‐effects model, odds ratio (OR) was calculated for the efficacy and safety. Heterogeneity was tested using I² statistics. Thirty‐seven studies reported data on the DAA efficacy. The OR was 1.66 (95%CI: 1.00‐2.75; P = 0.06) in meta‐analysis of RCTs, and similar results were found in SATs and observational studies. HCV genotype, stage of fibrosis or HIV co‐infection did not affect the rate of SVR in older persons. Prevalence of anaemia (OR 0.26 95%CI: 0.09‐0.69; P = 0.007) (OR 0.25 95%CI: 0.09‐0.69; P = 0.007) and skin complaints (OR 0.61 95%CI: 0.45‐0.83; P = 0.001) was higher in older adults. Finally, geriatric patients affected by chronic HCV infection can be safely treated with DAAs with the same efficacy reported in younger adults.     

Improving health care student attitudes toward older adults through educational interventions: A systematic review

ABSTRACT

Educational institutions should aim to positively influence the attitudes of future health care practitioners toward older patients to ensure the provision of quality patient care. This systematic review of the literature aims to determine the effectiveness of educational interventions designed to improve health care student behaviors and/or attitudes toward older people. The 29 studies included in this review utilized a variety of interventions, methods, and measurement tools. The most common type of educational intervention incorporated interaction with real patients. Few studies evaluated the impact of interventions on behavior; therefore, more observational studies are required. Overall interventions incorporating interactions with real patients who are independently living had a positive impact on student attitudes toward older adults. Clinically focused placements with patients who are ill may still have a place in the development of the patient-centered interview and assessment skills, along with improving confidence and competence, despite not having a favorable impact on attitudes.