Factors Affecting Intensive Aflibercept Treatment Response in Diabetic Macular Edema: A Real-World Study

Table 3

Comparison of baseline characteristics between good and suboptimal responders.

or (%)	Good responder	Suboptimal responder	value
	()	()
Systemic factors
Age (years)			0.505
Sex, male	5 (45.45)	14 (73.68)	0.122
Female	6 (54.54)	5 (26.31)
DM duration (years)			0.008
HbA1C (%)			0.834
Medication, insulin	1 (9.09)	3 (15.78)	0.603
OHA	10 (90.90)	16 (84.21)
Hb (g/dL)			0.367
WBC (×10^3/μL)			0.616
Plt (×10^3/μL)			0.993
eGFR (mL/min/1.73 m^2)			0.018
Cr (mg/dL)			0.049
Ca (mg/dL)			0.203
Na (mmol/L)			0.249
K (mmol/L)			0.004
Cl (mmol/L)			0.154
Alb (g/dL)			0.273
AST (IU/L)			0.361
ALT (IU/L)			0.941
HTN	3 (27.27)	10 (52.63)	0.177
HL	3 (27.27)	7 (36.84)	0.592
Ocular factors
Baseline CRT (μm)			0.490
Baseline BCVA (LogMAR)			0.293
DMR severity			0.643
NPDR	6 (54.54)	12 (41.37)
PDR	5 (45.45)	7 (36.84)
ERM	2 (18.18)	13 (68.42)	0.008
Previous treatment history			0.691
Vitrectomy+PRP	1 (9.09)	3 (15.78)
Bevacizumab+PRP	2 (18.18)	3 (15.78)
Bevacizumab only	1 (9.09)	4 (21.05)
PRP only	3 (27.27)	5 (26.31)
Treatment-naïve	4 (36.36)	4 (21.05)

Statistically significant difference () in Mann–Whitney -test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. SD: standard deviation; N: number; DM: diabetes mellitus; HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin; OHA: oral hypoglycemic agents; Hb: hemoglobin; WBC: white blood cell; Plt: platelet; eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rates; Cr: creatinine; Ca: calcium; Na: sodium; K: potassium; Cl: chloride; Alb: albumin; AST: aspartate aminotransferase test; ALT: alanine aminotransferase test; HTN: hypertension; HL: hyperlipidemia; CRT: central retinal thickness; BCVA: best-corrected visual acuity; DMR: diabetic retinopathy; (N)PDR: (non)proliferative diabetic retinopathy; ERM: epiretinal membrane; PRP: panretinal photocoagulation.