Satisfaction and quality of life of allergic patients following sublingual five-grass pollen tablet immunotherapy in Spain

Abstract

BackgroundFive-grass pollen tablet is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC). This trial sought to determine the satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients undergoing this treatment.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional, multicentre, observational, naturalistic study, following a discontinuous pre- and co-seasonal five-grass pollen regimen over two seasons in Spain (2012, 2013). The HRQoL of the patients was measured with the specific Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) for adults, adolescent (AdolRQLQ), or paediatric (PRQLQ) patients. Treatment satisfaction was assessed by the Satisfaction Scale for Patients Receiving Allergen Immunotherapy (ESPIA) questionnaire. Patients/investigators were surveyed on beliefs and attitudes towards the five-grass pollen tablet. ARC evolution according to allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma (ARIA) criteria and treatment adherence were evaluated.ResultsAmong the 591 ARC patients included, the mean (SD) HRQoL scores were 1.40 (1.1) in adults, 1.33 (1.1) in adolescents, and 1.15 (1.1) in children, indicating low levels of impairment (scale 0–6). ESPIA answers showed high levels of satisfaction, with an average score of 69.2 (scale 0–100). According to ARIA criteria, 88.2% of patients reported improvement of ARC. Moreover, this was accompanied by a reduced use of symptomatic medication. Adherence to treatment was estimated at 96.8%. In general, both patients and specialists exhibited a positive attitude towards five-grass pollen tablet treatment.ConclusionARC patients treated with five-grass pollen tablet showed favourable levels of HRQoL and treatment satisfaction, with concomitant improvements in ARC and symptomatic medication use, which translated into high levels of treatment adherence and a positive attitude towards five-grass pollen tablet.

Clinical Efficacy of Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy from Patient and Physician Perspectives

“…Similarly, 7.9% of intermittent asthma patients turned to 63.4% after AIT. These results are also consistent with those of previous studies demonstrating that the severity of allergic rhinitis was reduced from moderate to severe severity to mild severity in 49.1% of patients 26. This study also showed the decreased medication prescription rate after AIT in both allergic rhinitis and asthma patients.…”

“…The rates of patient and physician satisfaction with AIT were 74/100 and 78/100, respectively, using VAS scores, and showed a significant similarity between them 25. The Satisfaction Scale for Patients Receiving Allergen Immunotherapy (ESPIA) totaled 69.2 points on a 0–100 scale after sublingual grass pollen immunotherapy 26. Although the methods for evaluating the overall rate of satisfaction with AIT were not similar between studies, AIT appeared to be an excellent therapeutic option meeting the expectations of allergic patients and physicians.…”

Update about Oralair® as a treatment for grass pollen allergic rhinitis

“… German 2-y, prospective, open-label, observational study Shah-Hosseini et al 53 , 54 Children and adults (4–75 y) with moderate-severe ARC ± mild asthma (n=1,482) Demonstrated sustained efficacy over 2 consecutive years of treatment, with reduction in symptom scores compared with pre-treatment scores and reduction in symptomatic medication use in both children and adult patients. Spanish 2-y, prospective, open-label, observational study Antolin-Amerigo et al 55 Children and adults (≥6 y) with moderate-severe ARC ± mild asthma (n=591) Reduction in frequency and severity of symptoms; reduction in medication use; high rate of treatment satisfaction. German 1-y prospective, open-label, observational study Schafer et al 56 Adults (≥18 y) with moderate-severe ARC ± mild asthma (n=327) Significant improvements in ARC symptoms and reduction in medication use; improved QoL and treatment satisfaction.…”

Influence of allergen immunotherapy on the quality of life in patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis and insect venom allergy

“…Z kolei w przekrojowym, wieloośrodkowym badaniu autorów hiszpańskich oceniano wpływ immunoterapii podjęzykowej w postaci tabletki z alergenem pięciu traw na satysfakcję z leczenia i HRQoL. U 591 chorych na alergiczny nieżyt nosa stwierdzono nie tylko znaczną poprawę (o co najmniej 80%) obiektywnych objawów choroby i wysoką dyscyplinę leczenia, lecz także niskie wskaźniki upośledzenia jakości życia we wszystkich grupach wiekowych [52].…”