title: The economic impact of allergic rhinitis and current guidelines for treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the economic burden of allergic rhinitis treatment and current guidelines for treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review articles and original research were retrieved from MEDLINE, OVID, PubMed (1950-November 2009), personal files of articles, and bibliographies of located articles that addressed the topic of interest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were selected for their relevance to the burden of allergic rhinitis and current guidelines for treatment. Publications included reviews, treatment guidelines, and clinical studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite the common symptoms of allergic rhinitis, its impact on patient quality of life, and the huge cost to society and individuals of treatment, including pharmacotherapy, many patients do not adhere to their medication regimens because the medications do not adequately address their symptoms or are otherwise problematic for them to use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The economic impact of allergic rhinitis is substantial; the total direct medical cost of allergic rhinitis is approximately $3.4 billion, with almost half of this cost attributable to prescription medications. Multiple treatment options are available, and these were reviewed to provide an update on effectiveness and adverse effects that may affect patient adherence.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Asthma Medical Group and Research Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Eli O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Meltzer
authors.forename: Don A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bukstein
mesh_terms: D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States