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Alexander K Schuster,1 Lilia Leisle,2 Nils Picker,2 Hanne Vorwerk,3 Philipp Hahn,4 Jürgen Wasem,5 Philip Lewis3 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany; 2Evidence, Value & Access, Cytel, Berlin, Germany; 3Apellis Germany GmbH, Munich, Germany; 4IPAM e.V., Wismar, Germany; 5Institute for Healthcare Management and Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyCorrespondence: Alexander K Schuster, Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1 (Building 101), Mainz, 55131, Germany, Tel +49 6131 17 0, Email alexander.schuster@unimedizin-mainz.deIntroduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss among the elderly in higher-income countries. This study aimed to explore the medical and economic burden of non-exudative AMD patients living in Germany.Methods: German claims data (AOK PLUS) were utilized in this retrospective analysis. Prevalent non-exudative AMD only patients were compared to (i) non-exudative AMD patients with a concomitant exudative AMD diagnosis and (ii) propensity score matched non-AMD controls in terms of patient characteristics and eye-related diagnostic/monitoring patterns during baseline (in 2020) as well as in terms of the healthcare resource use and associated costs during the follow-up (in 2021).Results: The sample comprised 25,439 patients diagnosed with non-exudative AMD only and 7,153 diagnosed with both types of AMD (mean age: 79/81 years | female: 64.3%/64.5%). The total health insurance costs for non-exudative AMD only patients were estimated to be 6,500 € per person-year (pPY), which was about 500 € pPY higher than in matched non-AMD controls. The total costs further increased by about 3,500 € pPY in the presence of concomitant exudative AMD. Also, the healthcare resources (especially related to ophthalmological care) were utilized more frequently by non-exudative AMD patients compared to non-AMD controls, and even more so by patients with concomitant exudative AMD.Conclusion: Non-exudative AMD patients were associated with an increased medical and economic burden compared to non-AMD individuals living in Germany.Keywords: age-related macular degeneration, burden of disease, health insurance claims, healthcare resource utilization and associated costs, Germany