Frequency of diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis among adults with asthma in Germany, France, and the UK: National Health and Wellness Survey

ABSTRACT

Background: Concomitant allergic rhinitis (AR) adds to the symptomatic burden of asthma.

Scope: To determine the proportion of adults with concomitant asthma and AR whose AR is diagnosed and/or treated, data were derived from a cross-sectional, stratified, random sample of 26,468 adults from France, Germany and the UK, participants in the 2004 web-based National Health and Wellness Survey. Patients were drawn from the database if they reported (1) experiencing asthma in the prior 12 months, (2) a physician diagnosis of asthma, and (3) ever experiencing ‘nasal allergies/hay fever’ (physician diagnosed or self-reported symptoms).

Findings: Of 1139 patients with asthma who reported AR, 203 (18%) did not have a diagnosis of AR. Of these, 86 (42%) pursued over-the-counter self-treatment for AR, and 117 (58%) remained untreated. Of 936 patients who reported diagnosed AR, 471 (50%) received AR prescriptions, 200 (21%) pursued over-the-counter self-treatment, and 265 (28%) remained untreated. Overall, 34% of patients with asthma and diagnosed or self-reported AR were not treated for AR. There were no significant differences in QoL over the prior 4 weeks, nor healthcare resource use over the prior 6 months between patients treated and those not treated for AR.

Conclusion: Based on self-reported data, despite global treatment guidelines recommending evaluation and treatment of AR among patients with asthma, AR was not diagnosed for 1 in 5 patients, and AR was not treated for 1 in 3 patients with asthma.

Key words: :

• Allergic rhinitis
• Asthma
• Diagnosis
• Resource use
• Treatment

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This study was supported by a research grant from Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

V.S., B.M.A., L.R., T.F., and S.D.T. have disclosed that they are employees of Merck & Co.

All peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. Peer Reviewer 1 and Peer Reviewer 2 have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgment

The authors thank S. Balachandra Dass, PhD, from Merck & Co. for assistance in writing the manuscript.