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Loss to Follow up among Glaucoma Patients at a Tertiary Eye Center over 10 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Williams, AM; Schempf, T; Liu, PJ; Rosdahl, JA
Published in: Ophthalmic Epidemiol
August 2023

PURPOSE: To assess the incidence, risk factors, and clinical consequences of loss to follow up (LTFU) among glaucoma patients at our institution over a 10-year period. METHODS: This retrospective study examined LTFU among a cohort of glaucoma patients with a clinical encounter in 2010. LTFU was defined as 52 weeks or more without an encounter and without alternative reason for discontinued care, such as discharge, documented move, or death. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were collected and compared between LTFU and non-LTFU groups using a logistic regression model to identify risk factors for LTFU. Odds ratios (ORs) are reported with 95% confidence intervals. Clinical outcomes were documented for LTFU patients who returned after a lapse in care. RESULTS: Among the 395 included patients, 132 (33%) were LTFU over the 10-year study period. Characteristics associated with LTFU in a logistic regression model included greater disease severity (OR = 1.03 [1.01-1.05], p = .023, for each worsening decibel of mean deviation) and in-state rather than out-of-state residence (OR = 2.76 [1.12-6.80], p = .027). Other potential risk factors that did not reach significance included male gender (OR = 1.39 [0.92-2.13], p = .124), Black race (OR = 1.40 [0.91-2.16] p = .123), and legal blindness (OR = 1.58 [0.91-2.76] p = .107). Among the 132 patients who were LTFU, only 23 (17%) later returned to care, two-thirds (15/23) of whom returned with disease progression or complication. CONCLUSION: One-third of glaucoma patients became LTFU over a 10-year period, and LTFU may be associated with poor clinical outcomes. More research is needed to understand reasons for LTFU and to promote regular glaucoma care.

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Published In

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1744-5086

Publication Date

August 2023

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

383 / 391

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • HIV Infections
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Epidemiology
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4202 Epidemiology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Williams, A. M., Schempf, T., Liu, P. J., & Rosdahl, J. A. (2023). Loss to Follow up among Glaucoma Patients at a Tertiary Eye Center over 10 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes. Ophthalmic Epidemiol, 30(4), 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2022.2127787
Williams, Andrew M., Tadhg Schempf, Peggy J. Liu, and Jullia A. Rosdahl. “Loss to Follow up among Glaucoma Patients at a Tertiary Eye Center over 10 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes.Ophthalmic Epidemiol 30, no. 4 (August 2023): 383–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2022.2127787.
Williams AM, Schempf T, Liu PJ, Rosdahl JA. Loss to Follow up among Glaucoma Patients at a Tertiary Eye Center over 10 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2023 Aug;30(4):383–91.
Williams, Andrew M., et al. “Loss to Follow up among Glaucoma Patients at a Tertiary Eye Center over 10 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes.Ophthalmic Epidemiol, vol. 30, no. 4, Aug. 2023, pp. 383–91. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/09286586.2022.2127787.
Williams AM, Schempf T, Liu PJ, Rosdahl JA. Loss to Follow up among Glaucoma Patients at a Tertiary Eye Center over 10 Years: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2023 Aug;30(4):383–391.

Published In

Ophthalmic Epidemiol

DOI

EISSN

1744-5086

Publication Date

August 2023

Volume

30

Issue

4

Start / End Page

383 / 391

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • HIV Infections
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Epidemiology
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4202 Epidemiology