Persistency and Clinical Outcomes Associated with Latanoprost and Beta-Blocker Monotherapy: Evidence from a European Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate persistency (time on initial therapy) and the clinical impact of latanoprost versus beta-blocker monotherapy in treating glaucoma.

Methods

This observational, multicenter, retrospective medical chart review study conducted in four European countries included patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who began their first glaucoma treatment with latanoprost or a beta-blocker between November 1996 and November 1998. Persistency and glaucoma-related clinical outcomes data were abstracted for the 2 years following treatment initiation.

Results

In all, 260 patient charts were analyzed (94 latanoprost, 166 beta-blocker). Patients in the latanoprost group stayed on therapy twice as long as those who received a beta-blocker (p<0.0001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, patients receiving a beta-blocker as initial therapy were 3.8 times more likely to change therapy than those initially treated with latanoprost (p<0.0001). Patients in the latanoprost group also experienced greater mean decreases in intraocular pressure (IOP) than those receiving a beta-blocker (7.4 mmHg versus 4.6 mmHg, respectively; p<0.0001), and fewer had worsened optic nerve head excavation (1.7% versus 14.2%, respectively; p<0.05) by the time of their first therapy change or last study visit, whichever came first.

Conclusions

Over a 2-year period, latanoprost was associated with significantly greater persistency and better clinical IOP outcomes compared with beta-blocker therapy.

Keywords

Beta-blocker Intraocular pressure Latanoprost Ocular hypertension Primary open-angle glaucoma

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