title: Reduced work/academic performance and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis and impact of allergen immunotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterised by burdensome nasal and/or ocular symptoms. This inflammatory disease can be debilitating and thus result in considerable health-related and economic consequences.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study, adult subjects with AR (N = 683) completed three allergy-specific questionnaires that assessed the impact of AR on the work/academic performance, daily activities, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and satisfaction with allergen immunotherapy (AIT). Regression analyses were used to examine the associations between several clinical variables and the patient-reported outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total loss of productivity was 21.0 and 21.2 % for employed and student patients, respectively, whereas the impairment of daily activities was 22.0 %. The mean overall HRQOL score was 1.94 ± 1.29 (on the scale of 0-6 points). Global score for satisfaction with AIT was 65.5 ± 24.8 (on a 0-100 scale). Simple regression analysis found statistically significant associations between loss of work and academic productivity, impairment of daily activities and the type and severity of AR. AIT was a protective factor. The persistent and more severe types of AR and lack of AIT contributed to the worsening of HRQOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AR (the persistent and more severe form of the disease) has an impact on functional characteristics of adult patients in Spain. AIT might reduce the effect of this disease on the work/academic performance and HRQOL. Trial registration Retrospectively registered.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.affiliation: Alergólogo. Consulta Privada, Jaén, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arcalá Campillo
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Alergia, Hospital Casa de Salud, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Alergia, Hospital Jerez de la Frontera, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millan
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jáuregui
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohedano
authors.affiliation: Neumología Pediátrica, Hospital de Nens de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liñan
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verdu
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Alergia, Centro Sanitario C Mora, Sant Cugat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rubira
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Universitario de Sanchinarro, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santaolalla
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Alergia, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Alergia, Hospital Viamed Santa Angela de la Cruz, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orovitg
authors.affiliation: Health Outcomes Research Department, 3D Health Research, Balmes 152 6º 2ª, 08008 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villarrubia
keywords: Allergen immunotherapy; Allergic rhinitis; Daily activities; Productivity; Quality of life