title: Frequency of diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis among adults with asthma in Germany, France, and the UK: National Health and Wellness Survey.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Global Outcomes Research, Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889-0100, USA.
authors.forename: Vasilisa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sazonov
authors.forename: Baishali M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ambegaonkar
authors.forename: Susan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bolge
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Radican
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Stephanie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: 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