title: Patient-related factors in rhinitis and asthma: the satisfaction with allergy treatment survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient satisfaction with the prescribed treatments represents a crucial issue that may have clinical relevance as it may significantly affect treatment compliance. We designed an observational study to evaluate the satisfaction level concerning different pharmacological treatments for allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma in a real-life setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 21 allergy centres homogeneously distributed in Italy. Three hundred and one patients (46.8% males; 53.2% females; mean [SD] age, 33.1 [13.8] years) with AR and/or asthma were consecutively evaluated. Diagnosis, classification, symptom severity, and satisfaction degree (assessed by a questionnaire) were the parameters considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 33.5% of the AR patients were satisfied with the rhinitis treatments. Only 40.7% of the asthmatic patients were satisfied with the asthma treatments. Some factors associated with treatment dissatisfaction are as follows: female gender (odds ratio [OR] 2.36; p < 0.01), co-morbidity (OR 2.39; p < 0.05), rhinitis severity (OR 1.39; p < 0.05), asthma severity (OR 2.04; p < 0.05), and antihistamine use (OR 2.53); however, the use of bronchodilators had a favourable impact (OR 0.28; p < 0.05). The relatively low number of subjects prevented performing stratification of patients by treatment classes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this real-life study strengthen the concept that AR is particularly troublesome and that most allergic patients suffering from both rhinitis and asthma are dissatisfied with prescribed drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: Cristoforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scurati
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puccinelli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soffia
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: Oliviero
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists