Work productivity in rhinitis using cell phones: The MASK pilot study

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis often impairs social life and performance. The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to use cell phone data to assess the impact on work productivity of uncontrolled rhinitis assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). A mobile phone app (Allergy Diary, Google Play Store and Apple App Store) collects data from daily visual analogue scales (VAS) for overall allergic symptoms (VAS‐global measured), nasal (VAS‐nasal), ocular (VAS‐ocular) and asthma symptoms (VAS‐asthma) as well as work (VAS‐work). A combined nasal‐ocular score is calculated. The Allergy Diary is available in 21 countries. The app includes the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Allergic Specific Questionnaire (WPAI:AS) in six EU countries. All consecutive users who completed the VAS‐work from 1 June to 31 October 2016 were included in the study. A total of 1136 users filled in 5818 days of VAS‐work. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis were controlled (VAS‐global <20) in approximately 60% of the days. In users with uncontrolled rhinitis, approximately 90% had some work impairment and over 50% had severe work impairment (VAS‐work >50). There was a significant correlation between VAS‐global calculated and VAS‐work (Rho=0.83, P<0.00001, Spearman's rank test). In 144 users, there was a significant correlation between VAS‐work and WPAI:AS (Rho=0.53, P<0.0001). This pilot study provides not only proof‐of‐concept data on the work impairment collected with the app but also data on the app itself, especially the distribution of responses for the VAS. This supports the interpretation that persons with rhinitis report both the presence and the absence of symptoms.

Recent developments and highlights in allergic rhinitis

“…Mobile applications have been developed to monitor the symptoms, medication usage, and quality of life of the disease more efficiently and in a timely manner, becoming of relevant importance for patient stratification . In this regard, a large, cross‐sectional, multicenter, and real‐world study has demonstrated that MASK Diary, a mobile phone app adapted for use in individual countries and freely available on Google Play and Apple stores, can collect data of daily visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for (a) overall allergic symptoms, (b) nasal, ocular, and asthma symptoms, (c) work, and (d) medication .…”

ARIA pharmacy 2018 “Allergic rhinitis care pathways for community pharmacy”

“…The ARIA guideline proposes a classification of AR based on symptom control, QOL, and daily impact as well as duration . Disease control associated with several health outcomes, including QOL and some mHealth end points, should be considered in ICPs. Although the duration of rhinitis is an important indicator of asthma multimorbidity, and duration and efficacy of treatment in AR, AR control should be considered as the most important end point for the pharmacist.…”

“…VAS can be used to assess overall AR control (VAS global measure) as it relates to nasal symptoms and eye symptoms (Figures ,6). There is a high degree of correlation between VAS global measured (“Overall how much are your allergic symptoms bothering you today?”) and VAS for nose symptoms . An electronic form of the VAS exists in the Allergy Diary and has been validated against several end points.…”

“…The Allergy Diary (MASK‐rhinitis) has been implemented in 23 countries and 16 languages. Over 23 000 users have been recorded . This tool appears to be appropriate for pharmacists, in particular since it is extremely simple, does not require the pharmacist to undertake any particular education on its use, is user‐friendly for the patient, and can be used for follow‐up over time.…”

Electronic Clinical Decision Support System for allergic rhinitis management: MASK e‐CDSS

“…[2][3][4] It has recently been converted to electronic format and included in a free mobile app for patients-Allergy Diary-as part of MASK (Mobile Airways Sentinel network). [5][6][7][8] The Allergy Diary aims to empower patients to self-manage their AR. 5,6 The use of self-management and information and communication technology may hold the key to chronic disease management and provides useful objective data for physicians.…”