J Retin.  2022 Nov;7(2):121-126. 10.21561/jor.2022.7.2.121.

Compliance with the Recommended Age-related Eye Disease Study 2 Supplementation among Korean Age-related Macular Degeneration Patients

• Jeong Y
• Woo SJ

• KMID: 2552143
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21561/jor.2022.7.2.121

Abstract

Purpose
We sought to investigate compliance with the Age-related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) supplement recommendations among patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in South Korea.
Methods
The medical records of patients with AMD who visited the retinal clinic at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital between May 2019 and July 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients who fell into category 3 or 4 of the AREDS classification were included. The primary outcome was the rate of adherence to AREDS2 supplements that were obtained through interviews. Clinical records, including age, sex, diagnosis, and visual acuity, were also collected.
Results
One hundred five patients with AMD were included in this study. The mean age was 76.4 ± 6.1 years. Among the 105 study participants, 94 (89.5%) used any kind of oral supplements and 11 patients (10.5%) were not on any oral supplement. While 41 patients (39.0%) adhered to the AREDS2 formulation-based supplements recommended by the retinal specialist, 53 patients (50.5%) consumed other oral antioxidants or supplements that were different from the recommendation. Only eight patients (7.6%) were on oral supplements in perfect concordance with the recommendation.
Conclusions
A high percentage of Korean patients with intermediate or late AMD who were recommended the AREDS2 oral supplementation were consuming oral supplements of any type. However, they showed low adherence to the recommended regimen at a correct dosage.

Keyword

Antioxidants; AREDS; Compliance; Macular degeneration