title: Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A Questionnaire Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is urticaria persisting for more than 6 weeks with no identifiable provoking cause and associated with significant disability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to survey patients with CSU with a view to establishing prognosis, efficacy of treatments, suspected causality, and effects on lifestyle.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-four patients with CSU were seen between 2003 and 2013. A questionnaire was sent to all, and 101 participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of female to male participants was 4:1. The mean age of onset was 36 years. The average duration of symptoms was 8.8 years, with a range of 0.33 to 55 years. Seven percent of participants had autoimmune thyroiditis, and another 17% had various other autoimmune diseases. Common symptoms were pruritus, disturbed sleep, and anxiety. Slightly more than 70% had missed work or school. Most were frustrated at the lack of efficacy of treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSU is frequently associated with a history of autoimmune diseases. It may persist for decades and causes significant disruption to lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gattey
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: Bahar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bahrani
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Dermatology and Cutaneous Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada peter.hull@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hull
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D020920:Dyssomnias / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013256:Steroids
keywords: autoimmune urticaria; autologous serum skin test; chronic spontaneous urticaria; chronic urticaria; dermatology; immunology; prognosis; quality of life; questionnaire survey; treatment