Subcutaneous immunotherapy takes more than the time in the clinic

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the time use and both direct and indirect costs associated with subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) for adults with allergic rhinitis (AR) and caregivers of children with AR in the US.

Methods

We conducted a survey to assess the retrospective time use and direct costs of SCIT. The populations surveyed included adults and caregivers of children (aged 5–17) with symptomatic AR of moderate or higher severity who are currently receiving or have previously started allergy immunotherapy (AIT). The retrospectively collected, self-reported time consumption and direct costs per clinic visit when receiving SCIT were assessed as well as the productivity loss associated with SCIT. Data were analyzed using univariate descriptive statistics.

Results

The study included 106 adults with AR and 191 caregivers of children with AR. We found that the median time spent per visit to the clinic was 50 min for both groups, including travel time and time at the clinic. The direct costs related to each visit included parking fees, road tolls and other costs. Adults spent $10 on parking, $9 on tolls and $10 on other costs. Finally, a median of 4 h of work was missed for both the adult patients and the adults accompanying a child.

Conclusions

We found that SCIT is associated with substantial direct patient costs and productivity loss for both adults with AR and caregivers of children with AR.

Keywords:

• Allergy immunotherapy
• allergic rhinitis
• productivity loss
• subcutaneous immunotherapy
• time use

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This study was funded by ALK, Hørsholm, Denmark.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

M Tankersley is a speaker and consultant for ALK. T Winders discloses that Allergy & Asthma Network and Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform receive funding for unbranded disease awareness and education. M Aagren and Henrik Brandi Pedersen are employees at ALK, Denmark. M Bøgelund, MH Pedersen and AS Ledgaard Loftager are employees at Incentive Denmark, which is a paid vendor of ALK, Denmark. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Authors’ contributions

All authors have made a significant contribution to the work whether in conception and design; analysis and interpretation of data; drafting/revision of the manuscript; revising it critically for intellectual content or in all these areas. All authors have approved the final version to be published and are accountable for all aspects of the work.

Acknowledgements

None.