Non-interventional study comparing treatment satisfaction in patients treated with antihistamines.
OBJECTIVE
Allergic rhinitis and urticaria are common allergic disorders that may affect approximately 15% of people at some time in their lives. Antihistamines are the most widely used therapeutic interventions for these disorders but the newer generation agents have differing pharmacokinetic characteristics that may result in different patient satisfaction and preferences. The objective of this study was to investigate patients' and physicians' satisfaction with their current antihistamine treatment for allergic disease.


METHODS
In an observational study, physicians in nine European countries completed questionnaires evaluating 7,274 patients treated with an oral antihistamine. The satisfaction of patients and physicians with the efficacy and tolerability of treatment was rated on a visual analogue scale. In addition, the proportion of patients satisfied with treatment (overall satisfaction) and willing to continue treatment with the same antihistamine were assessed. Safety and tolerability data were also gathered.


RESULTS
The results of this study indicate that modern antihistamines are generally considered effective and well tolerated by patients. In general, levocetirizine scored significantly higher in terms of perception of efficacy, tolerability and overall satisfaction. In terms of tolerability, three-quarters of patients were 'very satisfied' and a further fifth were moderately satisfied with levocetirizine and almost all (95%) were happy to continue treatment. Overall, the most commonly reported adverse event in this study was somnolence, a well known effect of antihistamines. The rate of somnolence in the levocetirizine group (3.8%) was similar to that for fexofenadine (both doses) and desloratadine, two products which are considered to be nonsedating antihistamines, and significantly less than half the rate for cetirizine.


CONCLUSIONS
Levocetirizine is considered an effective and well tolerated option for treating allergic disease by patients and physicians alike, particularly when the best available effectiveness and tolerability are required.
De Vos
Christine
C
UCB SA, Brussels, Belgium. christine.devos@ucb-group.com
Mitchev
Krassimir
K
Pinelli
Marie-Etienne
ME
Derde
Marie-Paule
MP
Boev
Rossen
R
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; C472067:levocetirizine; D016593:Terfenadine; C093230:fexofenadine; D017332:Cetirizine