Treatment Trends of Diabetic Macular Edema in Korea (TRACK) Study: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Purpose: To evaluate real-world functional and anatomical outcomes, treatment patterns, and ocular examination trends in diabetic macular edema (DME) in Korea.Methods: A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted at 17 hospitals (2017–2022) involving adults with DME. Patients were c...

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Published in:Korean journal of ophthalmology Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 399 - 409
Main Authors: Kim, Min Seok, Joo, Kwangsic, Shin, Yong-Un, Cho, Hee Yoon, Lee, Joo Yong, Sagong, Min, Kim, Jee Taek, Kim, Yu Cheol, Kim, Hyun Woong, Kwak, Hyunduck, Ahn, Seong Joon, Lee, Mee Yon, Bae, Jeong Hun, Chung, Inyoung, Han, Yong Seop, Yoo, Woong-Sun, Park, Sungwho, Kim, Do Gyun, Kang, Hae Min, Chin, Hee Seung, Hwang, Daniel Duck-Jin, Ji, Yong-Sok, Park, Kyu Hyung
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Korea (South) 대한안과학회 01.10.2025
Subjects:
Aged
Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage
Diabetic Retinopathy - complications
Diabetic Retinopathy - diagnosis
Diabetic Retinopathy - drug therapy
Diabetic Retinopathy - epidemiology
Female
Fluorescein Angiography - methods
Follow-Up Studies
Fundus Oculi
Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage
Humans
Intravitreal Injections
Macula Lutea - pathology
Macular Edema - diagnosis
Macular Edema - drug therapy
Macular Edema - epidemiology
Macular Edema - etiology
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Republic of Korea - epidemiology
Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods
Treatment Outcome
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors
Visual Acuity
안과학
Republic of Korea
Diabetic macular edema
Therapeutics
Korea
ISSN:1011-8942, 2092-9382, 2092-9382
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Summary:Purpose: To evaluate real-world functional and anatomical outcomes, treatment patterns, and ocular examination trends in diabetic macular edema (DME) in Korea.Methods: A prospective, multicenter, observational study was conducted at 17 hospitals (2017–2022) involving adults with DME. Patients were categorized into center-involving DME (CI-DME) and non-CI-DME groups based on optical coherence tomography findings. Serial changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central subfoveal thickness (CST), and treatment and examination patterns were recorded at baseline and follow-up visits (6, 12, 18, and 24 months), and analyzed using linear mixed models and paired t-tests.Results: A total of 209 participants (81 female patients, 38.8%; mean age, 60.2 ± 10.8 years) were enrolled. Over 24 months, 10 of 68 non-CI-DME patients (14.7%) developed CI-DME. CST significantly decreased in the CI-DME group (from 419 µm at baseline to 343 µm, p = 0.001), whereas BCVA remained unchanged in both groups. Throughout the 2-year period, the average number of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections was 3.1 ± 3.6, while steroid injections averaged 0.7 ± 1.5. The CI-DME group received significantly more anti-VEGF injections compared to the non-CI-DME group (3.8 ± 3.9 vs. 2.0 ± 2.8, p = 0.004). Additionally, the CI-DME group had more frequent visits (15.8 vs. 11.3, p = 0.017) and optical coherence tomography examinations (9.7 vs. 7.4, p = 0.023). The number of anti-VEGF injections decreased in the CI-DME group over time, while the number of visits decreased in both groups.Conclusions: In real-world clinical practice in Korea, the treatment and monitoring frequency for DME was lower than in major clinical trials, potentially contributing to suboptimal visual outcomes.
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ISSN:1011-8942
2092-9382
2092-9382
DOI:10.3341/kjo.2025.0057