BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is considered to be the most frequent allergic disorder. OBJECTIVE: To present the data from the Alergológica-2005 on the characteristics of patients with AR. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional epidemiologic study was performed on 4991 patients consulting for the first time in Allergology services in Spain. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of patients consulting Allergology services for the first time were diagnosed with AR, of whom 65% also had conjunctivitis and 37% asthma. Two out of every three subjects with AR consulted their primary care physician twice in the previous 4 months. One third was treated by another specialist in the preceding year and one of every five required treatment in emergency departments. AR affected the quality of life (SF-12), in some cases causing time off work and school. The most frequently involved allergens were pollens (51%), followed by dust mites (42%). Polysensitization was found in 31% of cases. Antihistamines and nasal topical corticoids were the most widely used drugs. In 38% of patients, treatment with specific immunotherapy was begun. CONCLUSIONS: AR was the leading cause of consultations in Alergológica-2005. Rhinitis was frequently associated with other allergic disorders in 65% of patients with conjunctivitis and 37% with asthma. The illness led to a substantial use of healthcare resources and significantly affected the quality of life of the sufferers.
BACKGROUND:Allergic rhinitis (AR) is considered to be the most frequent allergic disorder. OBJECTIVE: To present the data from the Alergológica-2005 on the characteristics of patients with AR. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional epidemiologic study was performed on 4991 patients consulting for the first time in Allergology services in Spain. RESULTS: Fifty-five percent of patients consulting Allergology services for the first time were diagnosed with AR, of whom 65% also had conjunctivitis and 37% asthma. Two out of every three subjects with AR consulted their primary care physician twice in the previous 4 months. One third was treated by another specialist in the preceding year and one of every five required treatment in emergency departments. AR affected the quality of life (SF-12), in some cases causing time off work and school. The most frequently involved allergens were pollens (51%), followed by dust mites (42%). Polysensitization was found in 31% of cases. Antihistamines and nasal topical corticoids were the most widely used drugs. In 38% of patients, treatment with specific immunotherapy was begun. CONCLUSIONS: AR was the leading cause of consultations in Alergológica-2005. Rhinitis was frequently associated with other allergic disorders in 65% of patients with conjunctivitis and 37% with asthma. The illness led to a substantial use of healthcare resources and significantly affected the quality of life of the sufferers.
Authors: Ignacio Dávila; Carmen Rondón; Ana Navarro; Encarnación Antón; Carlos Colás; María Teresa Dordal; María Dolores Ibáñez; Beatriz Fernández-Parra; Magdalena Lluch-Bernal; Víctor Matheu; Javier Montoro; María Cesárea Sánchez; Antonio Valero Journal: Am J Rhinol Allergy Date: 2012 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.467