title: Burden of allergic respiratory disease: a systematic review.
abstract: This meta-analysis compared the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and/or allergic asthma (AA) caused by perennial house dust mite (HDM) versus AR and/or AA caused by seasonal pollen allergy. Following a systematic search, the identified studies used the disease-specific rhinitis quality of life questionnaire or generic instruments (SF-36 and SF-12). Summary estimates obtained by meta-analysis showed that HRQL in patients with perennial HDM allergy was significantly worse than that of patients with seasonal pollen allergy, when measured by both disease-specific and generic HRQL instruments, and was reflected by an impact on both physical and mental health. A systematic review of cost data on AR and AA in selected European countries demonstrated that the majority of the economic burden was indirectly caused by high levels of absenteeism and presenteeism; there was little or no evidence of increasing or decreasing cost trends. Increased awareness of the detrimental effects of AR and/or AA on patients' HRQL and its considerable cost burden might encourage early diagnosis and treatment, in order to minimize the disease burden and ensure beneficial and cost-effective outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Prevention and Health, The Capital Region of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Experimental Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark ; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0994-0184
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Linneberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Business and Management, Faculty of Social Sciences, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dam Petersen
authors.affiliation: ALK, Hørsholm, Denmark.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hahn-Pedersen
authors.affiliation: ALK, Hørsholm, Denmark.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hammerby
authors.affiliation: ALK, Hørsholm, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Serup-Hansen
authors.affiliation: MAPI, London, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boxall
keywords: Allergic asthma; Allergic rhinitis; Economic burden; Meta-analysis; Quality of life; Systematic review