title: Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, causal factors and evolution of a group of patients with chronic urticaria-angioedema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic urticaria-angioedema is a common, multiple-cause complaint. The aim was to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, causal and aggravating factors and evolution of urticaria-angioedema.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive prospective study carried out at the Dermatology outpatient clinic of Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 125 patients with chronic urticaria-angioedema were evaluated to obtain sociodemographic data, anamnesis, dermatological and general clinical data and laboratory data, emphasizing causal and aggravating factors and complaint evolution.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chronic urticaria-angioedema occurred mainly in females (mean age: 35 years), but also in men (mean age: 32 years). White color and living in urban areas also predominated. There was no preferential time for symptoms to appear, and nighttime was the most commonly reported time for clinical worsening. Around half of the patients had urticaria associated with angioedema. There were no associated factors in most of the cases, and stress was the most commonly reported aggravating factor. The cause was ascertained in 37.6% of our cases. The mean duration of follow-up was 11.7 months. Around 60% of the patients evolved with the problem under control, 32% improved, 9% had no change in dermatological condition and only one patient worsened.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic urticaria-angioedema was more common among middle-aged women. It is a long-term disease, and its cause was explained in about one-third of the patients. Half of the patients presented disease control after treatment lasting an average of approximately one year.
authors: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. mregina@fmb.unesp.br
authors: Maria Regina Cavariani
authors: MR
authors: Silvares
authors: Kunie Iabuki Rabello
authors: KI
authors: Coelho
authors: Ivete
authors: I
authors: Dalben
authors: Joel Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Lastória
authors: Luciana Patrícia Fernandes
authors: LP
authors: Abbade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000799:Angioedema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications; D014505:Urban Population; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology