Newswise – Northampton, MA – The American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF) is updating their COVID-19 guidelines based on results from a recently published peer-reviewed study in Nature’s cure. According to the study, patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are at a higher risk for developing severe complications. including need for extra oxygen and death. AMDF is disseminating this information to warn AMD patients and eye care practitioners of the potential danger.
“At AMDF, we believe it is important that this information, even if predictable, is in the hands of patients so that they can make informed decisions about their safety as they work. life, ”said Chip Goehring, President, AMDF. “We want to raise awareness, not worry. AMD patients who need anti-VEGF injection for the wet form of the disease – or who have sudden changes in vision and have dry AMD – should continue treatment. Retina clinics and ophthalmologists’ offices maintain very safe environments. ”
The study of 6,398 COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized in New York – Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center during the first wave of the pandemic found that AMD patients recovered more quickly than others , died at three times the level of COVID- 19 patients who did not have AMD, and required intubation in one in five cases.
“This does not mean that AMD patients are more likely to be infected with coronavirus,” says Sagi Shapira, PhD, MPH, who led the study by Nicholas Tatonetti, PhD, both professors at the College of Physicians and Physicians. Columbia University Vagelos Surgeons. “Everyone’s risk of becoming infected depends entirely on their behavior. But these findings, once infected, have no doubt that those with macular degeneration are at greater risk of developing symptoms of a catastrophic disease. ”
The study, titled “Coagulation immunosuppression and intolerance in the adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infections,” was designed to understand the link between COVID-19 and the filling system, a key component of the body’s immune response to disease. The researchers used AMD as a surrogate for filler dysfunction because those with AMD are known to have hyperactive filler activity. These coronaviruses have been previously tested for activation and activation of the body’s immune system and have been further tested as part of the published study. Overall, the study showed that filling dysfunction is associated with severe disease, affecting a population of patients including those with AMD. Importantly, the increased mortality and intubation rates could not be explained by differences in patients’ age or sex.
“This suggests,” said Dr Shapira, “that those with AMD should make a mistake and recommend practices to avoid infections, such as wearing a mask, social pace, hand hygiene, avoiding gatherings I don’t know if you have COVID status, and other guidelines that the CDC recommends. ”
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation also provides the guide: “Coronavirus and Your Care Macular Degeneration. ”
The American Macular Degeneration Foundation (macular.org) is a patient-based foundation that supports the study, education and advocacy of AMD that can modify games to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes for all those with AMD. effect.