title: DIRAE study: seasonal allergic rhinitis distribution in Spain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  National epidemiological study to observe if among patients with pollinic seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), there are differences between those visited by primary care physicians (GPs) or allergists (ALs).
  
  
  METHODS
  758 and 739 adults were recruited respectively by GPs and ALs. The physicians filled in a questionnaire: ARIA classification, prescribed treatment, and asthma incidence. The patient completed a visual analogical scale (VAS) to evaluate the severity of the rhinitis. Rhinitis control (controlled, partially controlled, and not controlled) was assessed by physician and patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found among patients visited by GPs or ALs concerning the ARIA classification and rhinitis severity. Treatment with oral antihistamines was 92.3% and 89.3% for GPs and ALs, respectively. The use of nasal corticosteroids was 76.7% and 60.4% for GP and AL patients, respectively. 31.9% of the patients visited by the ALs were treated with immunotherapy. The use of alternative medicine was 10.9% and 7.6% in GP and AL patients, respectively. The perception of "controlled" rhinitis was similar among patients (40.0%) and doctors (40.1%), although patients referred differences depending if they were visited by GP (44.8%) or AL (34.9%). Asthma prevalence was higher in those who suffered persistent as compared to intermittent rhinitis (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.39-2.36, p<0.001), and moderate/severe vs. mild rhinitis (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.05-2.68, p=0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with pollinic SAR visited by GPs or ALs show no differences in severity. Less than half of the patients can be considered as "controlled".
authors.affiliation: Unitat d'Al.lèrgia, H.U. Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quilez
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Depreux
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farre
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D018401:Sample Size; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents