Rhinasthma: a new specific QoL questionnaire for patients with rhinitis and asthma

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Asthma

Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research defines patient-reported outcomes as "any report of the status of a patient's health condition, health behavior, or experience with healthcare that comes directly form the patient, without interpretation of the patient's response by a clinician or anyone else." Validated patient-reported outcome measures are used extensively in pediatric and adult asthma across clinical and research settings to assess the impact of treatments on patient outcomes over time. This work aims to review some of the most commonly used asthma patient-reported outcomes across the following criteria: validity, reliability, responsiveness, time to complete, ease of administration, target population, recall period, scoring method, availability in different languages, use in clinical practice or research settings, licensing requirements, and cost of use.

An Update on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Asthma

TOPIC IMPORTANCE

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are information provided by patients on their condition, function, well-being, or experience. Instruments to quantify PROs, called patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), allow standardized assessment of a unique dimension of health that cannot be measured physically. Herein, we discuss how to appraise PROMs critically and provide an update on their use in asthma clinical practice and research.

REVIEW FINDINGS

Asthma-specific PROMs have been developed to measure a wide array of disease characteristics, including symptoms, medication use, exacerbations, and impairments to emotional and physical function. Some PROMs also include spirometry or expand questions to overlap with rhinitis symptoms. Use of PROMs to understand asthma control is included in management guidelines, yet real-world evidence of their effectiveness in improving asthma care remains limited. These instruments may be less accurate in characterizing patients with poorly controlled asthma and have modest correlation with exacerbation risk. Two new PROMs are highlighted, the Asthma Impairment and Risk Questionnaire as an instrument to assess asthma control that incorporates domains related to exacerbation risk and impairment, and the CompEx as a composite of daily diary reporting combined with exacerbation events as an early efficacy signal for interventional trials.

SUMMARY

PROMs are fundamental to asthma assessment. Novel instruments may improve the detection of patients at risk for poor outcomes and shorten the drug discovery pipeline. However, urgent research is needed to understand their practical utility in clinical settings.

Clinical and psychological aspects in a group of allergic asthma patients and the impact on their health status perception

BACKGROUND

The interplay between physical and psychological symptoms frequently affects the health-related quality of life of asthma patients.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

This research aimed at assessing the psychological status of 60 patients attending their first/second doctor visit at which they were diagnosed with allergic asthma. Information on psychological distress was collected through the Symptom Questionnaire (SQ), personality traits were described through Cattell's 16-Personality Factor Questionnaire (16-PF), stress-related behavior was detected through the P Stress Questionnaire (PSQ), and the perceived quality of life was described with the Rhinasthma questionnaire.

RESULTS

The SQ revealed anxiety levels above the clinical cut-off in 71.7% of patients, levels of depression in 46.7%, anger-hostility in 53.3%, and somatic symptoms in 65%. No significant differences were observed after three months. The 16-PF scores were also suggestive of specific personality traits associated with the predisposition towards psychosomatic disorders. However, no stress-related behaviors were observed with the PSQ. Rhinasthma highlighted a certain degree of the perceived quality of life. Additionally, the quality of life correlated with age, all psychological distress scales, a few personality traits, vigor, and stress disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Allergic asthma patients present a higher-than-average level of psychological distress and impaired perceived quality of life at the time of diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to assess the psychological status in addition to the respiratory function.

Are there differences in the patient-reported medication-related problems among asthma and allergy patients? A community pharmacy survey in Finland

BACKGROUND

A medication-related problem is an event involving medication that interferes with desired health outcomes. Those are largely studied among asthma patients, but little is known about medication-related problems among allergy patients. The objective of this study was to determine the most common patient-reported medication-related problems among asthma patients compared to allergy patients during the self-management of diseases. The other objective was to identify how demographic variables and the received treatment information influence reported problems.

METHODS

A nationwide survey was conducted in Finnish community pharmacies (n = 785) in September 2016. The survey targeted patients buying prescription medicines for asthma or allergy.

RESULTS

Responses were received from 46% of targeted pharmacies from 956 respondents. At least one medication problem was reported by 24% of asthma patients and 12% of allergy patients. The most common problems among asthma patients were having problems taking medicines on time (16%), problems in the administration technique (7%) and in the use of the inhaler (4%). Among allergy patients, 10% reported problems remembering to take medicines on time. Severe asthma and allergy increased the risk for medication-related problems (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.04-1.40 and OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.0-1.37). A higher age and less education were associated with fewer reported medication-related problems among both patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Asthma patients reported more medication-related problems than allergy patients. Among both investigated patient groups, remembering to take medicines on time was the most common. Health care professionals should educate younger patients but also older and less educated asthma and allergy patients to recognize and, to solve medication-related problems. In addition, severe asthma patients still need medication counseling.

Most-Cited Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Within Otolaryngology-Revisiting the Minimal Clinically Important Difference: A Review

Importance

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) allow clinicians and researchers to assess health-related information from a patient's perspective. These measures have been used more frequently over the last several decades, but an associated minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is needed to optimize their utility. This narrative review identified the top 100 most-cited otolaryngology-related PROM development and validation publications and assessed the presence and characteristics of the PROMs' associated MCID.

Observations

In this narrative review, a literature search in Scopus and Web of Science was conducted on June 29, 2022, using keywords related to PROM development and validation studies in otolaryngology and reference lists. Studies that met the definition of a PROM and assessed an otolaryngologic disorder or study population were included for full-text review. After full-text review of 188 articles, the top 100 most-cited PROM development and validation publications, resulting in 106 total PROMs, were chosen for review. A total of 39 (37%) of the identified PROMs had an associated MCID. Of those reporting an MCID, 14 (35.9%) used an anchor-based method, 12 (30.8%) used a distribution-based method, 10 (25.6%) used both, and 3 (7.7%) did not specify or used neither method. Rhinology had the greatest number of PROMs with an associated MCID (16 of 24, 66%), and pediatrics had the fewest (1 of 13, 7.7%). The median number of citations of PROMs with an MCID was higher than those without an MCID.

Conclusions and Relevance

The majority of the most-cited PROMs in otolaryngology lack an associated MCID. These data indicated that there are a multitude of PROMs that have been cited hundreds of times and used for decades without the ability to identify whether a particular change in score on the instrument is clinically meaningful. There is a need to determine and validate MCIDs for commonly used PROMs to aid clinical research and trial interpretation.

Long-term bidirectional association between asthma and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A big data cohort study

Background

Previous studies have argued that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with asthma. However, reliable evidence to verify this association has not yet been reported.

Objectives

To investigate the bidirectional association between asthma and ADHD through a 12-year big data cohort study.

Methods

The independent variable group was extracted from 3.5 million individuals randomly sampled by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). In Study 1, the incidence of ADHD according to asthma was evaluated, while in Study 2, the incidence of asthma according to ADHD was analyzed. Propensity score (PS) matching with several variables was used to obtain a control group.

Measurements and main results

In Study 1, the asthma group included 131,937 individuals and the non-asthma group included 131,937 individuals. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for ADHD in the asthma group was 1.17 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-1.23]. In subgroup analysis, the aHRs for ADHD of individuals in the subgroups male sex, 0-5 years old, 6-10 years old, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) 1, and CCI > 2 were significant (aHR: 2.83, 1.70, 1.79, 1.09, 1.15, 1.06, and 1.49, respectively). In Study 2, ADHD was found to significantly affect asthma in all age groups (aHRs of the subgroups 0∼60 and 0∼17 years old were 1.10 and 1.09, respectively). In the 0∼17 years old subgroup, the association of ADHD with asthma was greater with younger age (aHRs of the subgroups 0∼5 and 6∼10 years old were 2.53 and 1.54, respectively).

Conclusion

From long-term follow-up, the incidence of ADHD was 1.17 times higher in the asthma group than in the control group. The incidence of asthma was 1.10 times higher in the ADHD group than in the control group. Asthma and ADHD have a bidirectional relationship, and childhood asthma and ADHD should be rigorously managed.

The Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Approach of Value-Added Medicines: As-Needed Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis

Drug repurposing is a major field of value-added medicine. It involves investigating and evaluating existing drugs for new therapeutic purposes that address unmet healthcare needs. Several unmet needs in allergic rhinitis could be improved by drug repurposing. This could be game-changing for disease management. Current medications for allergic rhinitis are centered on continuous long-term treatment, and medication registration is based on randomized controlled trials carried out for a minimum of 14 days with adherence of 70% or greater. A new way of treating allergic rhinitis is to propose as-needed treatment depending on symptoms, rather than classical continuous treatment. This rostrum will discuss existing clinical trials on as-needed treatment for allergic rhinitis and real-world data obtained by the mobile health app MASK-air, which focuses on digitally-enabled, patient-centered care pathways.

Classic test and generalizability theories are both useful for cross-cultural adaptation of an allergic rhinitis health-related quality of life questionnaire

Background

An instrument to assess Allergic Rhinitis (AR) Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) in adult patients was developed in Spain. No validated instrument is currently cross-culturally adapted for use in daily practice to assess HRQL in AR patients in Colombia.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement performance of an AR-HRQL specific questionnaire, ESPRINT-15 (Cuestionario ESPañol de Calidad de Vida en RINiTis), in Colombian adult patients with AR using the Classic Test Theory (CTT) and the Generalizability theory (G-theory) frameworks.

Methods

We conducted the cross-cultural adaptation in 2 stages. In stage 1, we evaluated comprehensibility, acceptability, and feasibility of ESPRINT-15 in healthy adults and adult patients with AR. In stage 2, we examined both reliability and validity of ESPRINT-15 scores using CTT and overall reliability applying the G-theory in adult patients with AR.

Results

For feasibility and acceptability, all items showed a higher than 95% level of understanding, and modifications in the original questionnaire were unnecessary. Reliability and validity using CTT showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha and Mc McDonald's omega = 0.95) and test-retest reliability (scores from 0.70 to 0.76). The overall reliability score using G-theory was 0.75, and G-coefficients scores associated with internal consistency and test-retest reliability measures were 0.96 and 0.61, respectively. Validity using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified 2 factors instead of the original ESPRINT-15 4 domains. However, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed good fit regarding the original model.

Conclusions

The proposed cross-cultural adaptation of ESPRINT-15 showed good reliability and validity measures. Additionally, it was easy to use and administer. ESPRINT-15 can be used clinically and for research in Colombian adults' patients with AR. CTT and the G-theory can be used in epidemiological studies to adapt AR-HRQL questionnaires cross-culturally in adult patients with AR.

Rhinitis and Asthma Patient Perspective (RAPP): Clinical Utility and Predictive Value

BACKGROUND

RhinAsthma Patient Perspective (RAPP) is the only validated tool for assessing of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) related to asthma and rhinitis in individual patients.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the HRQoL burden among countries and explore the usefulness of RAPP as a complementary measure in disease management.

METHODS

In this post hoc analysis of the RAPP International Study, the enrolled population was clustered into patients with controlled rhinitis and controlled asthma (CA/CR), uncontrolled rhinitis and controlled asthma (CA/UR), controlled rhinitis and uncontrolled asthma (UA/CR), and uncontrolled rhinitis and uncontrolled asthma (UA/UR).

RESULTS

We recruited 575 adult patients. Significant differences among countries were observed in the mean RAPP score (from 15.7 in Spain to 18.7 in the Philippines) although the percentage of subjects with an optimal HRQoL (RAPP <15) was not significantly different. Compared with patients with AR and asthma disease control, those with UR/CA, CR/UA, and UR/UA had significantly higher RAPP scores (4.7, 5, and 9.8, respectively). The best cutoffs for detecting uncontrolled diseases were RAPP of 15 or greater (SE = 75%; specificity = 69%; and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.78) for AR; RAPP of 16 or greater (SE = 78%; specificity = 76%; and AUC = 0.83) for asthma; and RAPP of 18 or greater (SE = 86%; specificity = 87%; and AUC = 0.92) for both AR and asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide a better understanding of the individual burden of HRQoL related to asthma and rhinitis in daily practice. In addition, the RAPP estimates how much of the risk for uncontrolled disease depends on uncontrolled AR and asthma, allowing its use as a clinical support tool in clinical management.

Inferior Turbinate Reduction during Rhinoplasty: Is There Any Effect on Rhinitis Symptoms?

Introduction  Inferior turbinate surgery is often performed concomitantly with rhinoseptoplasty. As inferior turbinates play a major role in allergic rhinitis, it seems reasonable to suggest that inferior turbinate surgery reduces allergy.

Objective  To assess the impact of nasal turbinate surgery on non-obstructive allergic symptoms (nasal discharge, sneezing, pruritus, and allergic conjunctivitis) and on the use of allergic medication in patients with allergic rhinitis undergoing rhinoseptoplasty.

Methods  Secondary analysis of aggregated data from two randomized controlled trials. Participants with allergic rhinitis aged ≥ 16 years were recruited. Data from two groups were analyzed: patients with rhinoseptoplasty and concomitant turbinate reduction (intervention group) and patients with rhinoseptoplasty only (control group). The 90-day postoperative frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms and of nasal steroid and oral antihistamine use were analyzed.

Results  A total of 100 patients were studied. The groups were similar in terms of allergic symptom intensity and mean age. The frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms decreased 90 days postoperative in both groups ( p  < 0.01). There was no difference between the groups in the frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms at 90 days ( p  = 0.835). Topical nasal steroid and oral histamine antagonist use decreased in the intervention group at 90 days ( p  < 0.05).

Conclusions  Ninety days after the surgery, turbinate reduction performed in association with rhinoseptoplasty did not reduce the frequency of non-obstructive allergic symptoms more than rhinoplasty alone. However, the observed decrease in nasal steroid and oral antihistamine use suggests an impact of turbinate reduction on medication use in patients with allergic rhinitis undergoing rhinoseptoplasty.

Trial Registration  ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT01457638 and NCT02231216).

Health-related quality of life in children at the diagnosis of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis

BACKGROUND

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a bilateral, chronic, allergic condition mostly affecting children. Clinical evaluations may not necessarily reflect the impact of the disease on the patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to evaluate HRQoL in children at VKC diagnosis and to analyze correlations between HRQoL and clinical and laboratory variables.

METHODS

We studied 5- to 12-year-old patients with VKC. Data on clinical history, instrumental eye evaluations, blood examinations, and visual analog scale (VAS) for the subjective symptoms were collected. HRQoL was assessed through a disease-specific validated Quality of Life in Children with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (QUICK) questionnaire.

RESULTS

Seventy subjects were included in the analysis (female/male: 10/60; tarsal/mixed VKC form: 36/34). Clinical severity of VKC according to the Bonini scale was as follows: 14, mild; 36, moderate; and 20, severe. No significant difference was found concerning the distribution of patient age, gender, and history of allergic manifestations between tarsal and mixed VKC. A significant positive correlation was found between all QUICK scores and VAS scores, including different VAS subscale, while no significant correlation was found between QUICK scores and total sign scores, Schirmer's test, and corneal thickness. The presence of active severe VKC was not associated with worse HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

Our evidence shows that VKC patients experience impairment of HRQoL, especially in relation to the perception of symptoms independently of the ophthalmologic changes found, and that the QUICK questionnaire could be a useful tool to evaluate HRQoL in children with VKC, which may improve patients' classification and management.

Turkish language validity and reliability of the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test and its comparison with other scales

OBJECTIVES

Patients with asthma often suffer from concomitant allergic rhinitis (AR). The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) is a validated tool to assess asthma and rhinitis multimorbidity. Turkish language validity and reliability of CARAT and its compatibility with other scales were evaluated in the study.

METHODS

Patients with asthma and concomitant AR were tested with CARAT. Pulmonary function tests, Asthma Control Test (ACT), Assessment Tool for Asthma (ATA) questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS) were also used at the same day. With the VAS, patients determined their rhinitis symptom levels, and asthma specialist determined the rhinitis and asthma control levels separately. These questionnaires were repeated in 14 ± 2 days.

RESULTS

Three quarters (77%) of the 100 patients were female (mean age 46.5 years). The mean CARAT score was 19.6 ± 7.2. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the Turkish version of the CARAT scale was 0.83, showing a high level of internal consistency. Test-retest reliability coefficient was determined as r = 0.98 (p < 0.001). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient of the CARAT scale was 0.79. The p value of the Bartlett test was <0.001. ACT, ATA and VAS expert scales were correlated with CARAT total score (0.577 ≤ r ≤ 0.871). The CARAT scale did not show statistically significant difference according to gender, education, working status, smoking status, presence of polyps and multiple allergen sensitivity (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of the CARAT is a reliable alternative tool for physicians in determining disease control in adult patients with asthma and AR.

Allergen Immunotherapy: Biomarkers and Clinical Outcome Measures

Clinical trials for allergen immunotherapy products’ development and approval are conducted, aiming to monitor safety and efficacy of them. Symptom scores and the use of rescue medication are the primary clinical endpoints used in the conducted clinical trials, while Quality of Life scores and symptom-free days are measurements also used as secondary endpoints. Although the use of in vitro biomarkers might have been more practical and objective, there are yet no broadly used reliable ones accurately reflecting the clinical effects of allergen immunotherapy. On the contrary, in vivo biomarkers, such as the nasal allergy provocation test, are reliable and successfully used. The aim of this review is to describe how to adapt and use biomarkers and clinical outcomes in the everyday practice of Allergists who perform allergen immunotherapy.

Allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions to inhaled allergens and is one of the most common chronic conditions globally. AR often co-occurs with asthma and conjunctivitis and is a global health problem causing major burden and disability worldwide. Risk factors include inhalant and occupational allergens, as well as genetic factors. AR impairs quality of life, affects social life, school and work, and is associated with substantial economic costs. The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative classified AR into intermittent or persistent and mild or moderate/severe. The diagnosis is based on the clinical history and, if needed in patients with uncontrolled rhinitis despite medications or with long-lasting symptoms, on skin tests or the presence of serum-specific IgE antibodies to allergens. The most frequently used pharmacological treatments include oral, intranasal or ocular H₁-antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids or a fixed combination of intranasal H₁-antihistamines and corticosteroids. Allergen immunotherapy prescribed by a specialist using high-quality extracts in stratified patients is effective in patients with persistent symptoms. Real-world data obtained by mobile technology offer new insights into AR phenotypes and management. The outlook for AR includes a better understanding of novel multimorbid phenotypes, health technology assessment and patient-centred shared decision-making.

The prevalence of sleep impairments and predictors of sleep quality among patients with asthma

BACKGROUND

Sleep is a significant dimension of daily life. However, only a few studies have examined the sleep quality of asthmatics in a real-world clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE

This study is aimed to estimate the prevalence of sleep impairments among asthmatic patients and examine the relationship between sleep quality, asthma control, rhinitis symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

The present study adopted the observational cross-sectional research design that has been designed by the Italian Respiratory Society and used valid assessments to measure the study variables.

RESULTS

Data from 1150 asthmatic patients (mean age 51.01 years ± 16.03) were subjected to analysis. 58.3% of the patients had impaired sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI] total scores > 5), and their mean PSQI score was 5.68 (SD = 3.4). A significant correlation emerged between sleep quality and asthma control (p = 0.0001) and a significant albeit weak correlation emerged between PSQI total scores and Total 5 Symptoms Score (r = 0.24, p = 0.0001). Sleep quality was significantly associated health-related quality of life [HRQoL]. (r = 0.50, p < 0.001). After exclusion of patients at risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) and Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the most important determinants of PSQI score were HRQoL, In the entire sample asthma control is the strongest predictor of both sleep quality and HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this real-world study highlight the prevalence, impact and predictors of sleep disturbances in asthmatic patients and suggest the need for physicians to detect poor sleep quality.

Depression is associated with poor control of symptoms in asthma and rhinitis: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Although many studies have highlighted the link between asthma/rhinitis and depression, it is still unclear which characteristics of these diseases are associated with the risk of depression. We aimed to explore the relationship between depression and asthma or rhinitis in a representative sample of the Italian general population.

METHODS

The data were collected in GEIRD, an Italian multicenter, population-based, multicase-control study. 2227 participants (age 21-86 years, female 50%) underwent standardized interviews, skin prick and lung function tests, and were divided into cases of current asthma (n = 528), rhinitis without asthma (n = 972), and controls (n = 727). Two specific questions from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) were asked to identify symptoms of depressed mood and anhedonia, which were used as a proxy of major depression disorder.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depression was 16.7%, 11.9%, and 5.1% in subjects with asthma, rhinitis and controls, respectively. Both in asthma and rhinitis, subjects with depression had worse respiratory-health related quality of life and more frequent disease-related symptoms than their non-depressed counterparts. In asthma, depression was associated with poorer disease control. In rhinitis, depression was significantly associated with a disease-related limitations in daily activities and greater risk of symptom exacerbations and prescriptions of medicines for breathing. Cases of rhinitis with depression were less likely to be atopic.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that rhinitis exacerbations, particularly in non-atopic subjects, and low asthma control are strongly related to the presence of depressed mood in adults from the general population.

The cross-cultural validation of the English version of RhinAsthma patient's perspective (RAPP)

Objective: No validated instrument is currently available in English for use in daily practice to assess Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to validate and assess the psychometric characteristics of an English language version of RhinAsthma Patient Perspective (RAPP).Methods: The study was performed in the Philippines. The RAPP was translated into English. Adult patients, diagnosed with asthma and AR, were recruited. Clinical and functional data were collected on two occasion with a 4-week interval between visits. At both visits patients completed the following questionnaires: RAPP, Short Form Heath Survey-12 (SF-12), asthma control test (ACT), and rhinitis symptom Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Scale dimensions, internal consistency and convergent validity, reliability, discriminant ability, responsiveness, and minimal important difference (MID) were evaluated.Results: About 150 patients (mean age 39.3 years) completed the study. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis identified a uni-dimensional structure of the questionnaire. Internal consistency was satisfactory (0.87 at visit 1; 0.89 at visit 2). The tool showed good discriminant and convergent validity at both visits (p < 0.01). High reliability was confirmed by an ICC of 0.97 and a CCC of 0.95. Responsiveness was shown by a significant association with VAS (r = 0.34, p < 0.01) and ACT (r = -0.35, p < 0.01). The MID value was 2.Conclusions: The English version of RAPP was shown to have good psychometric properties and is a valid tool for assessing asthma and AR HRQoL in clinical practice.

Validation of Patient-Reported Outcomes for Clinical Trials in Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review

Although regulatory authorities have recently recommended the use of a combined symptom-medication score as a primary efficacy end point, none has been psychometrically validated. Here, we sought to determine to what extent allergic rhinitis (AR)-related patient-reported outcomes (symptom scores, medication scores, disease control scores, and satisfaction or quality-of-life scales) have been assessed for construct, content, and/or criterion validity, reliability, responsiveness, and the minimal clinically important difference. We searched the PubMed database from January 1997 to June 2018 with logical combinations of key words related to validation, AR, and patient-rated outcomes and scales. From a total of 1705 potentially relevant publications, 55 were reviewed. Despite the current emphasis on a combined symptom-medication score for evaluating the efficacy of allergen immunotherapy in AR, symptom scores have not been extensively validated, and we did not find any publications describing the validation of a medication score. Disease control scales (mainly the Rhinitis Control Assessment Test, the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test, and the Allergic Rhinitis Control Test) and health-related quality-of-life scales (mainly the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire [RQLQ] and the mini-RQLQ) have been extensively validated in AR but have some practical disadvantages as primary efficacy criteria in clinical trials.

Prospective observational study validating the German version of the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT10)

The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT10), developed by Portuguese experts, is the only questionnaire assessing asthma control under additional consideration of a frequently concurrent allergic rhinitis (AR), providing sub-scores for both diseases. Aims of this study were the translation and validation of its German version. Asthma patients both with and without AR were included at three primary care pulmologists´ practices in Southern Germany. After translation process, patients completed the CARAT10, the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), the Asthma Control Test (ACT), and the Standardised Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ(S)). Item and scale characteristics as well as measures of reliability and validity of the CARAT10 were determined. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test factorial validity. Data of 213 patients were analysed, 101 (47%) of them with concurrent AR. Missing responses were minimal and unsystematic. Cronbach´s α was 0.87 for the CARAT10 total score (TS) and 0.84 for each sub-score. Spearman´s correlation coefficients for the association of the CARAT10 TS with ACQ, ACT and AQLQ(S) were moderate to high and slightly higher in patients with AR. Higher correlations were found for its lower airway sub-score than the upper airway sub-score (all around 0.8 to all around 0.3). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factorial scale structure of the CARAT10, with a two-factor model showing a better fit to the data than a one-factor model. The German version of the CARAT10 is an acceptable, reliable and valid tool. Our results suggest a recommended use in asthma patients with AR.

A newly-translated German version of a two-factor asthma test shows promise as a reliable tool for assessing disease control. Asthma frequently co-exists with allergic rhinitis (AR), a condition in which allergies cause irritation and inflammation of the nasal passages. To verify asthma control under AR, a Portuguese team developed the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT10). Now, Christoph Ulrich Werner at the Technical University of Munich in Germany and co-workers have translated CARAT10 into German and verified its reliability and validity for use in the German population. The team trialed their CARAT10 version with 213 patients, 101 of whom had concurrent AR, and compared the results with three standardised asthma questionnaires. They found that CARAT10 was a better fit to verify disease control for patients with co-existing AR than in such.

Assessing patient-reported outcomes in asthma and COPD patients: which can be recommended in clinical practice?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is a clear need for simple and reliable patient-reported outcome measures for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma in daily practice. The purpose of this review is to facilitate the choice for clinicians of patient-reported outcomes which they can use in their daily practice.

RECENT FINDINGS

More than 50 patient-reported outcome measures for asthma and COPD exist and clinicians are often left confused on which to use. Four tools (two for asthma and two for COPD) can be suggested based on validity/reliability, responsiveness, practicality and are particularly convenient in terms of time to measure.

SUMMARY

On the basis of ample evidence, the COPD assessment test and the clinical COPD questionnaire for COPD and asthma control questionnaire and the asthma control test for asthma can be recommended for use in both primary care and other clinical settings. A simple guide figured as smiley faces has been designed to assist physicians to easily select the appropriate measure. With the current direction of thinking into treatable traits, targeted measures that evaluate the upper airways like the control of allergic rhinitis and asthma test may also be more used in the future.

Patient-reported outcomes in asthma clinical trials

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The review provides an overview of the results of asthma clinical trials published in peer review journals in the last 18 months that evaluated patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

RECENT FINDINGS

In the last 10 years, health care moved toward a patient-centered approach, which includes patients' perspectives reflecting the impact of a disease and its treatment.

SUMMARY

Surprisingly, among the almost 300 clinical trials published in the last one and a half year, PRO evaluation was performed in only 20 studies, and none of them held in a real-life setting. The effort of applying the scientific methods of PRO investigations in asthma clinical trials following a rigorous and systematic approach needs to be highly improved to allow better understanding of patient reported factors. Some recommendations are drawn particularly about PRO assessment in personalized medicine research. The ability of an individual PRO to evaluate choice of treatment and its effectiveness remains to be achieved.

Impact of nasal symptoms on the evaluation of asthma control

The united airways concept suggests that patients with asthma typically exhibit parallel inflammation in the upper airway. The resulting nasal symptoms should reduce quality of life and substantially affect the evaluation of asthma control among these patients. This study aimed to assess the association of nasal symptoms with the evaluation of asthma control.Fifty-eight patients with asthma and persistent nasal symptoms were prospectively recruited for evaluations of their sinonasal symptoms and asthma control in a cross-sectional study from August 2013 to June 2016. Participants underwent thorough nasal endoscopy, sinus computed tomography, pulmonary function testing, the asthma control test (ACT), and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) questionnaires to evaluate their asthma control and sinonasal symptoms.There was a significant association between ACT and SNOT-22 scores. Among patients with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis, ACT scores were closely related to the symptoms of cough, post-nasal discharge, dizziness, waking up at night, absence of a good night's sleep, and waking up tired. Among patients with asthma and chronic rhinitis, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second was closely related to the symptoms of needing to blow nose, runny nose, and cough. Patients with emergency clinic visits during the previous 3 months had relatively high SNOT-22 scores, especially for the symptoms of sneezing, runny nose, nasal blockage, cough, and dizziness.Sinonasal symptom severity was closely associated with measured asthma control status among patients with asthma and persistent nasal symptoms. Therefore, upper and lower airway inflammations should be considered and treated simultaneously.

Quality-of-life in insect venom allergy: validation of the Turkish version of the “Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire” (VQLQ-T)

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

[Development and Evaluation of Allergic Rhinitis-Specific Quality of Life (ARSQOL) Scale for Adults]

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to develop an Allergic Rhinitis-Specific Quality of Life (ARSQOL) scale and verify its validity and reliability.

METHODS

ARSQOL was developed in 5 steps. Items for the preliminary instrument of ARSQOL were developed through a literature review and deep interviews with allergic rhinitis patients. Face validity with Content Validity Index (CVI), construct validity using factor analysis, and known group comparison, criterion validity test using correlation between ARSQOL and total nasal symptoms score (TNSS) were conducted to evaluate the validity of ARSQOL. Cronbach's α was used to evaluate the reliability of ARSQOL.

RESULTS

CVI for the items in the final ARSQOL were .92. Five factors including discomfort associated with nasal symptoms (4 items), physical function (7 items), mental function (5 items), sleep disorder and social function (4 items), and problems of daily life (6 items) were identified through factor analysis and these five factors explained 66.6% of the total variance. The correlation coefficient between TNSS and the total score of life quality was -.69. In the group comparison, the persistent allergic rhinitis group showed lower ARSQOL scores than the intermittent patient group, and moderate to the severe allergic rhinitis patient group presented poorer ARSQOL than the mild symptom patient group. The Cronbach's α reliability coefficient was .95.

CONCLUSION

Results show that the ARSQOL has good reliability and validity and thus ARSQOL is a useful scale for clinical practices and research as a measure of quality of life in adults with allergicr hinitis.

Clinically relevant outcome measures for new pharmacotherapy, allergen avoidance and immunotherapy trials in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to provide a current overview on both primary and secondary measures of efficacy of therapeutic interventions for clinical trials in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) patients. In particular, this review highlights similarities and differences regarding endpoints in trials involving allergen immunotherapy (AIT), pharmacotherapy and allergen avoidance and addresses unmet needs regarding these measures in the future.

RECENT FINDINGS

In 2014, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) proposed a standard for the definition of the primary endpoint for AIT trials in ARC and, moreover, emphasized the advantages and disadvantages as well as unmet needs considering outcome measures for this treatment. Recently, as an (indirect) comparison of clinical efficacy of different interventions, the relative clinical impact (RCI) has been used to determine the percentage reduction of symptom scores in active versus placebo treatment.

SUMMARY

Several primary and secondary clinical endpoints of therapeutic interventions for clinical trials in ARC patients such as AIT or pharmacotherapy have been proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as well as by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Moreover, recommendations for the implication of these endpoints in clinical trials have been promoted by academia such as the World Allergy Organization (WAO) or the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).However, an urgent need for the future will be a thorough international harmonization regarding the definition of clinical endpoints, timing of assessments of clinical efficacy and determination of the clinically meaningful and relevant magnitude of efficacy of therapeutic interventions for clinical trials in ARC patients.

Turkish version of the Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire: assessment of reliability and validity

PURPOSE

The first disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire in patients with drug hypersensitivity, Drug Hypersensitivity Quality of Life Questionnaire (DrHy-Q), was developed and validated recently. The aim of this study was to assess validity, reliability and responsiveness to interventions of the Turkish version of the DrHy-Q.

METHODS

The Turkish version of the DrHy-Q was administered to prospectively enrolled 736 patients with drug hypersensitivity from ten allergy units. To assess validity, all patients completed the validated Turkish version of Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI). For test-retest reliability, 182 patients completed the DrHy-Q 1 week after the first questionnaire administration without any intervention. Responsiveness was assessed on 97 patients who had a DrHy-Q recorded at a follow-up visit after the intervention.

RESULTS

The internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the scale were adequate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.934, intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.783). The DrHy-Q scores showed weak negative correlations with the PGWBI total and domain scores (r = - 0.378 to -0.254, p < 0.001). DrHy-Q was able to discriminate the patients with one drug hypersensitivity reaction from the patients with two and above two reactions (p = 0.012 and p < 0.001, respectively), and the patients who experienced a respiratory reaction from the patients who did not (p = 0.018). However, it did not discriminate the patients with comorbid disease including psychiatric comorbidity (p > 0.05). The baseline DrHy-Q scores were significantly higher than the post-intervention scores (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

The Turkish version of DrHy-Q is reliable and valid for evaluating quality of life in patients with drug hypersensitivity, and it appeared responsive to interventions.

Mite-Allergic Rhinitis: How to Evaluate Clinical Efficacy in Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Trials?

House dust mite (HDM) allergen exposure is the most important cause of perennial allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Although allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) with HDM is well established, published studies have been characterized by substantial heterogeneity in clinical endpoints. Standardization in measuring clinical efficacy is required. Moreover, when designing an AIT trial with HDM allergens, several considerations have to be taken into account. The history of HDM allergy is less clear cut than the typical history of pollen allergy. In addition, clinical features of HDM allergy may differ from those of pollen allergy. Moreover, although not easily measurable, fluctuation in allergen exposure may cause variation in symptom severity and determine the timing of assessment of clinical effects of HDM AIT. Key points 1. A combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) is recommended as standard for the primary endpoint in future house dust mite (HDM) allergen-specific immunotherapy trials. 2. The diagnosis of HDM allergy is based on a carefully taken history in combination with sensitization to HDM allergens. 3. Eye symptoms are less prominent in patients with HDM-induced allergic rhinitis. Nasal symptoms, but not eye symptoms, should be included in the CSMS and in symptom scores as well. 4. As methods to determine allergen exposure vary and the efficacy of environmental control is a matter of debate, a practical approach consists of restraining patients from implementing HDM-reducing measures, such as removing carpets and introducing anti-mite covers, after the start of the study. 5. Efficacy evaluation in the period with the highest exposure to mites is recommended.

The minimal clinically important difference of the Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT): cross-cultural validation and relation with pollen counts

BACKGROUND

The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) monitors control of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

AIMS

To determine the CARAT's minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Dutch CARAT.

METHODS

CARAT was applied in three measurements at 1-month intervals. Patients diagnosed with asthma and/or rhinitis were approached. MCID was evaluated using Global Rating of Change (GRC) and standard error of measurement (s.e.m.). Cronbach's alpha was used to evaluate internal consistency. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated between CARAT, the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ5) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on airway symptoms to determine construct and longitudinal validity. Test-retest reliability was evaluated with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Changes in pollen counts were compared with delta CARAT and ACQ5 scores.

RESULTS

A total of 92 patients were included. The MCID of the CARAT was 3.50 based on GRC scores; the s.e.m. was 2.83. Cronbach's alpha was 0.82. Correlation coefficients between CARAT and ACQ5 and VAS questions ranged from 0.64 to 0.76 (P < 0.01). Longitudinally, correlation coefficients between delta CARAT scores and delta ACQ5 and VAS scores ranged from 0.41 to 0.67 (P < 0.01). Test-retest reliability showed an ICC of 0.81 (P < 0.01) and 0.80 (P < 0.01). Correlations with pollen counts were higher for CARAT than for ACQ5.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first investigation of the MCID of the CARAT. The CARAT uses a whole-point scale, which suggests that the MCID is 4 points. The CARAT is a valid and reliable tool that is also applicable in the Dutch population.

Development and psychometric testing of a chinese version of the caregiver burden index for parents of children with allergies

BACKGROUNG: No specific instrument has thus far been developed for measuring the caregiver burden perceived by parents of children with allergies (CWA).

OBJECTIVES

To determine the psychometric properties of the Caregiver Burden Index (CBI).

METHODS

A mixed-methods design was adopted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale.

RESULTS

The content validity index was 0.89, and the internal consistency was high with a coefficient alpha of 0.98. Three factors were extracted after exploratory factor analysis.

CONCLUSION

The study findings suggest that the CBI has sufficient reliability and validity to evaluate the caregiver burden of parents of CWA.

RHINASTHMA-Adolescents: a new quality of life tool for patients with respiratory allergy

BACKGROUND

Specific instruments for health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment in adolescents with rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma are available. None of them evaluates rhinitis and asthma together, although they often coexist. Our aim was to validate a HRQoL questionnaire for adolescents with rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, or both.

METHODS

A pool of 38 items covering the main symptoms and problems related to respiratory allergy was generated based on literature review, clinical experience, and unstructured interviews to 54 adolescents. The items were randomly listed and presented to 88 consecutive outpatients (44 M; mean age 15.2 ± 3.1). Patients had to indicate which item they had experienced and, for each selected item, its importance on a four-point scale (1 = not at all; 4 = very much). Twelve items were excluded from the list, because of low importance. In the validation phase, 102 patients (54 M; mean age 15.36 ± 1.12) completed the KINDL, a generic HRQoL tool, and the new questionnaire (RHINASTHMA-Adolescents).

RESULTS

Factor analysis revealed a five-dimensional structure, which explained up to 71.23% of the total variance. Association between RHINASTHMA-Adolescents and KINDL scores was all in the expected direction. Internal consistency for the extracted factors was satisfactory: Upper Airways (0.81), Lower Airways (0.89), Emotions (0.85), Social Relationship (0.79), Daily life management (0.74). Reliability was good for all factors with a Pearson coefficient ranged from 0.91 to 0.99.

CONCLUSIONS

RHINASTHMA-Adolescents is the first tool for evaluating HRQoL in patients with rhinitis and/or asthma. It provides a simple assessment and met the standards of validity, internal consistency, and reliability.

Measurement properties of asthma-specific quality-of-life measures: protocol for a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a frequent chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, and the assessment of health-related quality of life (HrQoL) is important in both research and routine care. Various asthma-specific measures of HrQoL exist but there is uncertainty which measures are best suited for use in research and routine care. Therefore, the aim of the proposed research is a comprehensive systematic assessment of the measurement properties of the existing measures that were developed to measure asthma-specific quality of life.

METHODS/DESIGN

This study is a systematic review of the measurement properties of asthma-specific measures of health-related quality of life. PubMed and Embase will be searched using a selection of relevant search terms. Eligible studies will be primary empirical studies evaluating, describing or comparing measurement properties of asthma-specific HRQL tools. Eligibility assessment and data abstraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. Evidence tables will be generated for study characteristics, instrument characteristics, measurement properties and interpretability. The quality of the measurement properties will be assessed using predefined criteria. Methodological quality of studies will be assessed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. A best evidence synthesis will be undertaken if more than one study have investigated a particular measurement property.

DISCUSSION

The proposed systematic review will produce a comprehensive assessment of measurement properties of existing measures of asthma-specific health-related quality of life. We also aim to derive recommendations in order to help researchers and practitioners alike in the choice of instrument.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42014010491.

Recommendations for the standardization of clinical outcomes used in allergen immunotherapy trials for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: an EAACI Position Paper

BACKGROUND

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been thoroughly documented in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It is the only immune-modifying and causal treatment available for patients suffering from IgE-mediated diseases such as allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic asthma and insect sting allergy. However, there is a high degree of clinical and methodological heterogeneity among the endpoints in clinical studies on AIT, for both subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy (SCIT and SLIT). At present, there are no commonly accepted standards for defining the optimal outcome parameters to be used for both primary and secondary endpoints.

METHODS

As elaborated by a Task Force (TF) of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Immunotherapy Interest Group, this Position Paper evaluates the currently used outcome parameters in different RCTs and also aims to provide recommendations for the optimal endpoints in future AIT trials for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

RESULTS

Based on a thorough literature review, the TF members have outlined recommendations for nine domains of clinical outcome measures. As the primary outcome, the TF recommends a homogeneous combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) as a simple and standardized method that balances both symptoms and the need for antiallergic medication in an equally weighted manner. All outcomes, grouped into nine domains, are reviewed.

CONCLUSION

A standardized and globally harmonized method for analysing the clinical efficacy of AIT products in RCTs is required. The EAACI TF highlights the CSMS as the primary endpoint for future RCTs in AIT for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Patient-reported outcome measures for asthma: a systematic review

Background:

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are measures of the outcome of treatment(s) reported directly by the patient or carer. There is increasing international policy interest in using these to assess the impact of clinical care.

Aims:

To identify suitably validated PROMs for asthma and examine their potential for use in clinical settings.

Methods:

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases from 1990 onwards to identify PROMs for asthma. These were critically appraised, then narratively synthesised. We also identified the generic PROMs commonly used alongside asthma-specific PROMs.

Results:

We identified 68 PROMs for asthma, 13 of which were selected through screening as being adequately developed to warrant full-quality appraisal: 8 for adults, 4 for children and 1 for a child’s caregiver. The PROMs found to be sufficiently well validated to offer promise for use in clinical settings were the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) and mini-AQLQ for adults, and Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire for children. Rhinasthma was considered promising in simultaneously assessing the impact of asthma and rhinitis in those with coexistent disease. We identified 28 generic PROMs commonly used in conjunction with asthma-specific instruments.

Conclusions:

We identified asthma PROMs that offer the greatest potential for use in clinical settings. Further work is needed to assess whether these are fit-for-purpose for use in clinical practice with individual patients. In particular, there is a need to ensure these are validated for use in clinical settings, acceptable to patients, caregivers and clinicians, and yield meaningful outcomes.

Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT): dissemination and applications in primary care

Asthma frequently occurs in association with allergic rhinitis and a combined management approach has been suggested. The Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test (CARAT) is the first questionnaire to assess control of both diseases concurrently. However, to have an impact on healthcare it needs to be disseminated and adopted. In this paper we discuss the dissemination of CARAT in different countries and its possible applications in primary care. At present, the adaptation of CARAT for use in different languages and cultures is being led by volunteer researchers and clinicians in 15 countries. Website and smartphone applications have been developed, and a free open model of distribution was adopted to contribute to the dissemination of CARAT. Examples of dissemination activities include distribution of leaflets and posters, educational sessions on the use of the questionnaire in the follow-up of patients, development of clinical studies, collaborations with professional organisations and health authorities, and the inclusion of CARAT in clinical guidelines. The adoption of innovations is an important challenge in healthcare today, and research on the degree of success of dissemination strategies using suitable methods and metrics is much needed. We propose that CARAT can be used in a range of settings and circumstances in primary care for clinical, research and audit purposes, within the overall aim of increasing awareness of the level of disease control and strengthening the partnership between patients and doctors in the management of asthma and rhinitis.

Is health-related quality of life associated with upper and lower airway inflammation in asthmatics?

Background. Allergic diseases impair health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). However, the relationship between airway inflammation and HR-QoL in patients with asthma and rhinitis has not been fully investigated. We explored whether the inflammation of upper and lower airways is associated with HR-QoL. Methods. Twenty-two mild allergic asthmatics with concomitant rhinitis (10 males, 38 ± 17 years) were recruited. The Rhinasthma was used to identify HR-QoL, and the Asthma Control Test (ACT) was used to assess asthma control. Subjects underwent lung function and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) test, collection of exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and nasal wash. Results. The Rhinasthma Global Summary score (GS) was 25 ± 11. No relationships were found between GS and markers of nasal allergic inflammation (% eosinophils: r = 0.34, P = 0.24; ECP: r = 0.06, P = 0.87) or bronchial inflammation (pH of the EBC: r = 0.12, P = 0.44; bronchial NO: r = 0.27, P = 0.22; alveolar NO: r = 0.38, P = 0.10). The mean ACT score was 18. When subjects were divided into controlled (ACT ≥ 20) and uncontrolled (ACT < 20), the alveolar NO significantly correlated with GS in uncontrolled asthmatics (r = 0.60, P = 0.04). Conclusions. Upper and lower airways inflammation appears unrelated to HR-QoL associated with respiratory symptoms. These preliminary findings suggest that, in uncontrolled asthma, peripheral airway inflammation could be responsible for impaired HR-QoL.

Comparing the effects of Botulinum Toxin-A and cetirizine on the treatment of allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

There are few reports on the effects of intranasal Botulinum Toxin-A (BTX-A) as a treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). In this study, we compared the efficacy of intranasal BTX-A to cetirizine in the treatment of AR.

METHODS

Fifty AR patients at the age of 26.2 ± 9.1 years (64% females), were recruited to the trial according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) criteria. Participants randomly received either intranasal injection of BTX-A (75IU Dysport®) or cetirizine (10mg/day). Symptoms (based on the ARIA) and side effects were assessed every two weeks for two months. Quality of life was evaluated before and after the study using the Rhinasthma questionnaire.

RESULTS

Total symptom severity score of patients significantly decreased (P < 0.001) and quality of life significantly improved (P < 0.001) at the same level in both groups. Side effects included nasal dryness (4%) and epistaxis (4%) in the BTX-A group. In the cetirizine group 44% sleepiness and 4% blurred vision was reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Nasal injection of BTX-A shows the same therapeutic effects as cetirizine in the management of AR. Since BTX is expensive, we do not suggest it in the first line of treatment for AR. However, BTX-A is a potential treatment for patients who are resistant or not compliant to the routine medications of AR. Further studies are required to investigate implications and limitations of BTX-A in the treatment of AR.

A cross sectional assessment of allergic rhinitis and asthma control at an immunoallergology outpatient hospital setting using CARAT10 questionnaire

INTRODUCTION

The most recent guidelines on asthma and rhinitis management recommend the optimal control of both diseases as the primary goal of treatment. CARAT10 is a recently developed and validated Portuguese questionnaire, which permits the simultaneous assessment of allergic rhinitis and asthma (ARA) control. There is no published data about the use of this tool.

AIMS

To assess ARA control using CARAT10 in an Immunoallergology hospital setting;

METHODS

Patients with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis with or without asthma (positive aeroallergens prick-tests and/or positive specific IgE) were sequentially enrolled and asked to fill in CARAT10 questionnaire at their first appointment.

RESULTS

Two hundred patients were included, mostly female (n=142) with an average age of 33.6±12.3 years. ARA was present in 86 patients while 114 had isolated allergic rhinitis. In ARA group, 86% scored CARATtotal ≤ 24, meaning poor control. Subscores revealed that 83% had poorly controlled rhinitis (CARATr ≤ 8) and 74% had poorly controlled asthma (CARATa < 16). There were no age or gender related differences in ARA control. In allergic rhinitis group (n=114), 89% were poorly controlled.

CONCLUSIONS

Only 14% of patients presenting rhinitis and asthma had both diseases controlled.

Impact of sleep as a specific marker of quality of life in allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disorder, which represents a considerable burden both on individual patients and society. It is associated with bothersome symptoms, which may impair usual daily activities, sleep quality, and productivity. Associated with impaired sleep, quality of life is significantly impaired in AR patients. AR significantly contributes to sleep-disordered breathing through multiple mechanisms, with the greatest impact mediated through nasal obstruction. Sleep impairment is very common in AR patients and has a significant impact on disease-specific measures of general health and quality of life. The degree of sleep disturbance is directly related to the severity of the disease. Nasal congestion also demonstrates circadian rhythm and positional variability, worsening during nighttime hours and in supine position. Increased sleep disordered events lead to poor sleep with fatigue and daytime somnolence, impaired performance, productivity and social functioning, and an increased risk of associated diseases.

Clinical and anti-inflammatory effects of ultra-short preseasonal vaccine to Parietaria in asthma

OBJECTIVE

The ultra-short course preseasonal allergy vaccine, containing the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), is effective in treating allergic symptoms; however, the efficacy in controlling asthmatics symptoms has not been fully demonstrated. We aimed at evaluating whether the ultra-short preseasonal course of immunotherapy contributes to asthma control.

METHODS

Four subcutaneous injections of the active product (Pollinex Quattro) were administered, before the pollen season, to 20 Parietaria-sensitive mild, untreated asthmatics (M/F: 12/8; age: 38 ± 14 years). After the screening visit (visit 1), asthma control was assessed by the Asthma Control Test (ACT) immediately before the first (visit 2) and immediately after the last (visit 5) injections, as well as during the pollen season (visit 6). Bronchial and alveolar exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were also measured. Nine Parietaria-sensitive mild asthmatics (M/F: 3/6; age: 40 ± 12 years) served as untreated controls.

RESULTS

The ACT remained constant during allergen exposure in specific immunotherapy (SIT)-treated asthmatics (visit 2: 22 ± 3.2; visit 5: 23 ± 2.8; visit 6: 22 ± 3.6; analysis of variance [ANOVA], p = 0.47), whereas it dropped during pollen exposure in controls (visit 2: 20 ± 2.5; visit 5: 21 ± 2.8; visit 6: 16 ± 5.7; ANOVA, p = 0.01). The forced expiratory NO (FENO) values significantly increased during pollen exposure in both groups; however, the alveolar NO concentrations remained stable in SIT-treated asthmatics (p = 0.11), whereas they doubled in controls (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The current findings show that the preseasonal vaccine adjuvated with MPL contributes to the maintenance of control of asthma during the pollen season.

Patient perceptions of allergic rhinitis and quality of life: findings from a survey conducted in europe and the United States

BACKGROUND

: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common, costly, and troublesome condition, impairing patients' quality of life (QoL), cognitive function, and productivity. Patients with AR report disturbed sleep, fatigue, irritability, and a range of practical problems. However, there is a relative lack of data on how patients with AR perceive their QoL.

OBJECTIVE

: To better understand how patients perceive AR and their attitudes toward this condition (including QoL) and its treatment options.

METHODS

: An online and telephone survey of 3635 people identified as having outdoor and indoor allergies, urticaria, and/or pet allergies was performed in 6 countries.

RESULTS

: The survey confirmed that patients with allergies perceive their symptoms as causing significant disruptions to their daily lives. Respondents were affected for a considerable part of each day, with the most severe symptoms occurring in the morning. The most important desired effect of medication was the restoration of normal breathing, and the most highly rated attributes of the "ideal" AR drug were efficacy, safety, and freedom from undesirable side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

: The information gathered from allergy sufferers who participated in this survey sheds light on the degree to which people with allergies are affected by their disease and the limitations imposed by associated symptoms.

Effect of nebulized beclomethasone on airway inflammation and clinical status of children with allergic asthma and rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of nebulized beclomethasone dipropionate (nBDP) on both allergic asthma and rhinitis. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 40 children (mean age 10.7 ± 2.1 years) with allergic asthma and rhinitis received either nBDP (daily dose of 800 µg, administered twice daily) or placebo for 4 weeks (with a face mask), after a 2-week run-in period of clinical assessment. Nasal and oral fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements together with pulmonary function tests, nasal and oral exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection for pH and interleukin-5 (IL-5) measurements as well as nasal and bronchial symptom scores were obtained at baseline and after 4-week treatment. A significant improvement in oral FeNO, oral and nasal EBC IL-5 and nasal EBC pH was observed in the nBDP group when comparing the values with baseline, together with an improvement in symptom score of the visual analogue scale, nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea, breathing difficulty, cough, wheezing and sleep disturbance (nBDP end treatment vs. baseline, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). nBDP was more effective than placebo (ANCOVA test) in improving [difference Δ = response after treatment at the last visit (active or placebo) - value at baseline] nasal pH, oral IL-5, oral FeNO, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity, peek expiratory flow, visual analogue scale, breathing difficulty, cough, wheezing and sleep disturbance scores. No differences were observed between the nBDP and the placebo group for symptom score of rhinitis. nBDP is a useful treatment for airway inflammation and clinical status in children with concomitant allergic asthma and rhinitis.

Mediators of the socioeconomic gradient in outcomes of adult asthma and rhinitis

OBJECTIVES

We estimated the extent to which socioeconomic status (SES) gradients in adult asthma and rhinitis outcomes can be explained by home and neighborhood environmental factors.

METHODS

Using survey data for 515 adults with either asthma or rhinitis, or both, we examined environmental mediators of SES associations with disease severity, using the Severity of Asthma Scale, and health-related quality of life (HRQL), using the Rhinasthma Scale. We defined SES on the basis of education and household income. Potential environmental mediators included home type and ownership, exposures to allergens and irritants, and a summary measure of perceived neighborhood problems. We modeled each outcome as a function of SES, and controlled for age, gender, and potential mediators.

RESULTS

Gradients in SES were apparent in disease severity and HRQL. Living in a rented house partially mediated the SES gradient for both severity and HRQL (P < .01). Higher perceived levels of neighborhood problems were associated with poorer HRQL and partially mediated the income-HRQL relationship (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in home and neighborhood environments partially explained associations of SES with adult asthma and rhinitis outcomes.

RhinAsthma patient perspective: a short daily asthma and rhinitis QoL assessment

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to develop a short validated patient-completed questionnaire, the RhinAsthma Patient Perspective (RAPP), to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis in clinical practice.

METHODS

A provisional RAPP questionnaire was formed from candidate items identified through retrospective analysis of 333 RHINASTHMA questionnaires. This was then tested on 150 asthma patients with allergic rhinitis.

RESULTS

Psychometric analyses identified eight items fitting a unidimensional model to form RAPP. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient > 0.8) and agreement with RHINASTHMA (r = -0.31, P = 0.0001) were excellent. Criterion, discriminant, and convergent validity were good. Reliability in 47 stable patients was very good (intra-class and concordance correlation coefficients were 0.90 and 0.89, respectively). Responsiveness in 103 patients with health improvement or deterioration was significantly associated with changes in Global Rating Scale (r = -0.4965, P < 0.01), Rhinitis Visual Analogue Scale (r = 0.5722, P < 0.01) and asthma control test (r = -0.6483, P < 0.01). Minimal clinical difference in the analyzed population was 2.

CONCLUSION

RhinAsthma Patient Perspective is a simple eight-question questionnaire with good measurement properties and sensitivity to health changes, which will provide a valid, reliable and standardized HRQoL measurement in patients with asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis in clinical practice.