Optimizing Value in the Evaluation of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: An Update on the Evaluation and Management

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) affects 0.5% to 1% of the general population and is often managed by allergy and immunology specialists. Guidelines have evolved over the past several decades with an emphasis on decreasing extensive screening laboratory testing as they are of low-yield and cost-ineffective. The utility of biomarkers remains under investigation but total immunoglobulin E may be helpful in determining specific endotypes and response to omalizumab. Antihistamines and omalizumab remain the primary therapeutic options for CSU, but an expanding body of evidence supports the use of immunosuppressants and anti-inflammatory medications in refractory cases.

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Quality of Life and Economic Impacts

This study focuses on quality of life (QoL) assessment in chronic urticaria, delving into tools, disease-specific measures, and its profound impact. With expanding therapeutic options, understanding QoL becomes crucial. QoL measures often involve comparisons of patient-reported outcomes in addition to quantitative measures of disease control. Emerging tools include the Urticaria Activity and Impact Measure, which may provide a balanced evaluation. In addition to discussions of the various QoL measures, the psychological impact of chronic urticaria are highlighted, covering emotional burden, stress, and psychiatric comorbidities. Finally, the economic impacts reveal escalating health care costs and cost-effectiveness considerations of therapies like omalizumab.

A Patient Charter for Chronic Urticaria

Chronic urticaria (CU) is the recurring development of wheals (aka "hives" or "welts"), angioedema, or both for more than 6 weeks. Wheals and angioedema occur with no definite triggers in chronic spontaneous urticaria, and in response to known and definite physical triggers in chronic inducible urticaria. Approximately 1.4% of individuals globally will have CU during their lifetime. The itching and physical discomfort associated with CU have a profound impact on daily activities, sexual function, work or school performance, and sleep, causing significant impairment in a patient's physical and mental quality of life. CU also places a financial burden on patients and healthcare systems. Patients should feel empowered to self-advocate to receive the best care. The voice of the patient in navigating the journey of CU diagnosis and management may improve patient-provider communication, thereby improving diagnosis and outcomes. A collaboration of patients, providers, advocacy organizations, and pharmaceutical representatives have created a patient charter to define the realistic and achievable principles of care that patients with CU should expect to receive. Principle (1): I deserve an accurate and timely diagnosis of my CU; Principle (2): I deserve access to specialty care for my CU; Principle (3): I deserve access to innovative treatments that reduce the burden of CU on my daily life; Principle (4): I deserve to be free of unnecessary treatment-related side-effects during the management of my CU; and Principle (5): I expect a holistic treatment approach to address all the components of my life impacted by CU. The stated principles may serve as a guide for healthcare providers who care for patients with CU and translate into better patient-physician communication. In addition, we urge policymakers and authors of CU treatment guidelines to consider these principles in their decision-making to ensure the goals of the patient are achievable.

Value-Based, Cost-Effective Care: The Role of the Allergist-Immunologist

Asthma and allergic disease impact millions of patients and are associated with high costs. Up to 30% of all medical care involves wasted spending. Across the spectrum of care provided by the allergist-immunologist, there are opportunities to improve value and reduce medical waste. Several examples highlight this reality. Evidence suggests that most patients may receive cost-effective care in the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria without the need for laboratory testing. For patients with asthma, although a single maintenance and reliever therapy approach may be cost-effective, insurance-mandated therapy changes are not, and may harm patients. Biologics may be very effective in improving asthma control but are too expensive for this indication-as demonstrated by cost-effectiveness analyses and highlighted by the Institute of Clinical and Economic Review, which concluded that the value-based price for asthma biologics ranges between $6500 and 14,3000 per year. Early introduction may prevent food allergy, but screening before first introduction is neither necessary nor cost-effective, although early salvage food oral immunotherapy may result in improved quality of life and cost savings. Evidence does not support the presence of allergic disease as a risk factor for anaphylaxis to coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination, and risk-stratified vaccination approaches do not appear cost-effective. Allergen immunotherapy is a very cost-effective treatment option. The practice of allergy-immunology has continued to evolve in recent years and can provide a leading example of high-value practice.

Do regional geography and race influence management of chronic spontaneous urticaria?

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is defined as migratory evanescent pruritic blanching wheals that occur with variable frequency for 6 weeks or more, with or without accompanying angioedema. This condition affects approximately 0.1% to 1.4% of persons worldwide. Second-generation H1 antihistamines are the mainstay of management, with refractory cases often managed with an array of options, including H2 antihistamines, leukotriene receptor antagonists, glucocorticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, and omalizumab. However, the degree of practice variation as to what treatments are prescribed is poorly understood, given that clinical care could be driven by patient preferences or lack of clarity as to best practices for refractory cases. We conducted a small, exploratory study of the role of race, ethnicity, and regional geographic distance to specialist care on chronic spontaneous urticaria prescribing practices. A small-area geographic variation in chronic spontaneous urticaria management in a large Chicago-area health care system was identified. Rates of omalizumab use varied by patient zip code, with more omalizumab prescriptions being associated with zip codes closer to the main office of an academic medical center-affiliated allergist-immunologist practice. Higher rates of omalizumab use were associated with White race in regional and patient-level analyses, though the reasons for this race-based finding are not clear.

Elevated Basal Serum Tryptase: Disease Distribution and Variability in a Regional Health System

BACKGROUND

Hereditary-alpha tryptasemia (HαT) is the most common etiology for elevated basal serum tryptase (BST). However, the utility of tryptase genotyping of individuals with elevated BST in general clinical practice remains undefined. Moreover, studies showing associations between elevated BST and chronic kidney disease (CKD), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), rheumatoid arthritis, or eosinophilic esophagitis did not include tryptase genotyping.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the utility of tryptase genotyping among individuals with moderate elevations in BST at a regional health system.

METHODS

Clinical and laboratory data from 109 subjects with basal tryptase values of 7.5 ng/mL or greater who were tested for HαT or had a disorder previously linked to elevated BST were collected retrospectively by chart review.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight subjects had elevated BST defined as 11.5 ng/mL or greater. HαT was found in 63.8% (n = 37), 12.1% (n = 7) had CKD, and 20.7% (n = 12) had clonal myeloid disorders. A total of 6.9% (n = 4) with elevated BST had negative testing for HαT, CKD, and myeloid neoplasms. Two subjects with CKD, 1 subject with MDS, and 1 with myeloid hypereosinophilic syndrome had negative testing for HαT. Among subjects with elevated BST and more than 1 tryptase measurement, 41.5% (n = 22) had BST variability that exceeded the 20% plus 2 formula. Increased BST variability was found in subjects with HαT, all forms of mastocytosis, CKD, MDS, and those with no associated diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

HαT, CKD, and clonal myeloid disorders or a combination of the 3 constitute approximately 90% of individuals with elevated BST in clinical practice. Myeloid neoplasms were over-represented in this cohort relative to population prevalence data suggesting tryptase measurement selection bias by clinicians or higher prevalence. Elevated BST is associated with increased tryptase variability, regardless of etiology.

A multi-disciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases: An EAACI Task Force

BACKGROUND

Guidelines for management of patients with allergic conditions are available, but the added value of nurses, allied healthcare professionals (AHPs), and general practitioners (GPs), in the management of allergic disease, has not been fully clarified. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) appointed a task force to explore this issue.

AIM

To investigate the added value of nurses, AHPs, and GPs in management of allergic diseases, in an integrated model of care.

METHODS

A search was made of peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and December 2020 (Cochrane Library, PubMed, and CINAHL) on the involvement of the various specific healthcare providers (HCPs) in the management of allergic diseases.

RESULTS

Facilitative models of care for patients with allergies can be achieved if HCP collaborates in the diagnosis and management. Working in multi-disciplinary teams (MDT) can increase patients' understanding of the disease, adherence to treatment, self-care capabilities, and ultimately improve quality of life. The MDT competencies and procedures can be improved and enhanced in a climate of mutual respect and shared values, and with inclusion of patients in the planning of care. Patient-centered communication among HCPs and emphasis on the added value of each profession can create an effective integrated model of care for patients with allergic diseases.

CONCLUSION

Nurses, AHPs, and GPs, both individually and in collaboration, can contribute to the improvement of the management of patients with allergic disease. The interaction between the HCPs and the patients themselves can ensure maximum support for people with allergies.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria in clinical practice: a pilot survey about attitudes and perceptions on assessment, diagnostic work-up and dietary management

BACKGROUND

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a heterogeneous condition whose management can be complex and challenging. The aim of this study is to evaluate physicians' attitudes regarding practical aspects of CSU management, including adherence to international guidelines, criteria and instruments for CSU assessment, prescription of laboratory investigations and role of dietary measures.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a study-specific questionnaire. It was administered to a group of physicians with a specialist interest in CSU from different areas of Italy definable as "CSU experts" (group A; N.=21) and subsequently to other physicians who managed CSU only occasionally in their clinical activity (group B; N.=25).

RESULTS

The EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guidelines were considered very or moderately useful by the majority of participants. Significantly more physicians in group A reported that such guidelines were always followed in clinical practice (P=0.0008). Instruments for the assessment of CSU severity/activity and quality of life were used in clinical practice significantly more often by CSU experts as compared to group B. Dietary measures were frequently suggested for CSU patients by nearly three quarters of group B members and by only 5% of CSU experts (P<0.00001). When physicians were asked to indicate the type of laboratory examinations that were commonly performed in patients with longstanding and/or uncontrolled CSU, regardless of history, the investigations most frequently reported were full blood count and thyroid autoantibodies, followed by erythrocyte sedimentation rate and/or C-reactive protein and thyroid function tests.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present pilot survey seem to suggest the heterogeneity of the approaches used for CSU management in clinical practice.

Achieving the Quadruple Aim to deliver value-based allergy care in an ever-evolving health care system

OBJECTIVE

To define the concept of value-based care in allergy, and to review challenges and opportunities in value-based health care delivery for allergists and immunologists.

DATA SOURCES

Articles describing practice variation, health care financing and reimbursement, shared decision-making, cost-effective health care delivery, patient-reported outcome measures, social determinants of health, and screening.

STUDY SELECTIONS

A narrative review detailing concepts and approaches to improve value-based health care in the context of the Quadruple Aim to address the patient and physician experience, cost, and population health.

RESULTS

Efforts to improve cost-effective care can be informed by understanding unwarranted geographic practice variation and benchmarking best practices. Although evidence suggests that shared decision-making and addressing social determinants of health have critical roles in high-quality care, some practices such as routine laboratory screening for urticaria, premedication to prevent recurrent low- or iso-osmolar contrast reactions, extended observation of resolved anaphylaxis, food allergy screening, and penicillin allergy overdiagnosis have high costs in relation to overall societal benefit. Food allergy prevention, newborn screening for severe combined immune deficiency, and penicillin delabeling are examples of population-based opportunities in which allergists and immunologists can assist in creating health care value. Although efforts to incentivize value-based care have emerged in recent years, the degree to which process measures improve patient-important outcomes remain uncertain. Clinician wellness must be made a priority for continued effective practice.

CONCLUSION

As health care systems continue to evolve, allergists and immunologists will play a key role in optimizing value by translating emerging evidence into practice and communicating novel approaches to prevent and treat allergic diseases.

COVID-19: Pandemic Contingency Planning for the Allergy and Immunology Clinic

In the event of a global infectious pandemic, drastic measures may be needed that limit or require adjustment of ambulatory allergy services. However, no rationale for how to prioritize service shut down and patient care exists. A consensus-based ad-hoc expert panel of allergy/immunology specialists from the United States and Canada developed a service and patient prioritization schematic to temporarily triage allergy/immunology services. Recommendations and feedback were developed iteratively, using an adapted modified Delphi methodology to achieve consensus. During the ongoing pandemic while social distancing is being encouraged, most allergy/immunology care could be postponed/delayed or handled through virtual care. With the exception of many patients with primary immunodeficiency, patients on venom immunotherapy, and patients with asthma of a certain severity, there is limited need for face-to-face visits under such conditions. These suggestions are intended to help provide a logical approach to quickly adjust service to mitigate risk to both medical staff and patients. Importantly, individual community circumstances may be unique and require contextual consideration. The decision to enact any of these measures rests with the judgment of each clinician and individual health care system. Pandemics are unanticipated, and enforced social distancing/quarantining is highly unusual. This expert panel consensus document offers a prioritization rational to help guide decision making when such situations arise and an allergist/immunologist is forced to reduce services or makes the decision on his or her own to do so.