title: Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis caused by grass pollen or house-dust mites in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) is increasing, relatively little is known about patient characteristics in Spain. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical profile and therapeutic strategies in patients attending Spanish specialists for AR caused by grass pollen or house-dust mites (HDMs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter cross-sectional epidemiological study of consecutive patients aged ≥5 years with confirmed diagnosis of AR caused by grass pollen or HDMs attending allergy specialists throughout Spain. Demographic and clinical data and information on treatment were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 1043 patients were analyzed (524 with grass pollen allergy and 519 with HDM allergy; mean age, 27.1 years). Three-quarters had persistent AR as per the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) definition, with disease duration of >2 years in 94.3% of those with pollen allergy and 85.5% of those with HDM allergy. Approximately 38% had concurrent asthma. Over one-half of the patients were considered to have gotten worse since the first onset of symptoms. In total, 51.5% did not achieve good disease control with pharmacotherapy and 47.7% were treated with immunotherapy (52.2% of HDM allergic patients and 43.2% of grass pollen-allergic patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The duration of AR in patients attended for the first time by specialists is long and, in general, the disease does not improve over time and is often not well controlled with pharmacologic interventions. Less than one-half of patients receive allergen-specific immunotherapy that is more often prescribed in HDM allergy.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Pneumology Service, ICT Hospital Clínic de Barcelona,. Barcelona, Spain. valero@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Justicia
authors.forename: Encarna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antón
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dordal
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Parra
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lluch
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montoro
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000009:adverse effects; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D039981:Pyroglyphidae; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D052179:Antigens, Plant