Reduced work/academic performance and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis and impact of allergen immunotherapy

Reduced work/academic performance and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis and impact of allergen immunotherapy: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterised by burdensome nasal and/or ocular symptoms. This inflammatory disease can be debilitating and thus result in considerable health-related and economic consequences.








A. Roger, E. Arcalá Campillo, M. C. Torres, C. Millan, I. Jáuregui, E. Mohedano, S. Liñan, P. Verdu, N. Rubira, M. Santaolalla, P. González, A. Orovitg and E. VillarrubiaEmail author

Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology201612:40

DOI: 10.1186/s13223-016-0146-9©  The Author(s) 2016

Received: 25 April 2016Accepted: 1 August 2016Published: 11 August 2016

Abstract



Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterised by burdensome nasal and/or ocular symptoms. This inflammatory disease can be debilitating and thus result in considerable health-related and economic consequences.



Methods

In a cross-sectional study, adult subjects with AR (N = 683) completed three allergy-specific questionnaires that assessed the impact of AR on the work/academic performance, daily activities, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and satisfaction with allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between several clinical variables and the patient-reported outcomes.



Results

Total loss of productivity was 21.0 and 21.2 % for employed and student patients, respectively, whereas the impairment of daily activities was 22.0 %. The mean overall HRQOL score was 1.94 ± 1.29 (on the scale of 0–6 points). Global score for satisfaction with AIT was 65.5 ± 24.8 (on a 0–100 scale). Simple regression analysis found statistically significant associations between loss of work and academic productivity, impairment of daily activities and the type and severity of AR. AIT was a protective factor. The persistent and more severe types of AR and lack of AIT contributed to the worsening of HRQOL.



Conclusions

AR (the persistent and more severe form of the disease) has an impact on functional characteristics of adult patients in Spain. AIT might reduce the effect of this disease on the work/academic performance and HRQOL.



Trial registration Retrospectively registered



Keywords



Allergic rhinitis Productivity Daily activities Quality of life Allergen immunotherapy





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