Frequency of diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis among adults with asthma in Germany, France, and the UK: National Health and Wellness Survey.
BACKGROUND
Concomitant allergic rhinitis (AR) adds to the symptomatic burden of asthma.


METHODS
To determine the proportion of adults with concomitant asthma and AR whose AR is diagnosed and/or treated, data were derived from a cross-sectional, stratified, random sample of 26,468 adults from France, Germany and the UK, participants in the 2004 web-based National Health and Wellness Survey. Patients were drawn from the database if they reported (1) experiencing asthma in the prior 12 months, (2) a physician diagnosis of asthma, and (3) ever experiencing 'nasal allergies/hay fever' (physician diagnosed or self-reported symptoms).


RESULTS
Of 1139 patients with asthma who reported AR, 203 (18%) did not have a diagnosis of AR. Of these, 86 (42%) pursued over-the-counter self-treatment for AR, and 117 (58%) remained untreated. Of 936 patients who reported diagnosed AR, 471 (50%) received AR prescriptions, 200 (21%) pursued over-the-counter self-treatment, and 265 (28%) remained untreated. Overall, 34% of patients with asthma and diagnosed or self-reported AR were not treated for AR. There were no significant differences in QoL over the prior 4 weeks, nor healthcare resource use over the prior 6 months between patients treated and those not treated for AR.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on self-reported data, despite global treatment guidelines recommending evaluation and treatment of AR among patients with asthma, AR was not diagnosed for 1 in 5 patients, and AR was not treated for 1 in 3 patients with asthma.
Sazonov
Vasilisa
V
Global Outcomes Research, Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100, USA.
Ambegaonkar
Baishali M
BM
Bolge
Susan C
SC
Radican
Larry
L
Fan
Tao
T
Taylor
Stephanie D
SD
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology