Allergic Rhinitis Therapy Decisions During a Routine Consultation: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Survey

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by nasal symptoms, including congestion, itching, rhinorrhea, and sneezing, and it is often associated with ocular symptoms, such as itchy, watery eyes and redness.¹ AR has been shown to negatively impact productivity and quality of life, including the occurrence of emotional problems and the impairment of sleep, social functioning, daily life activities, and work and school productivity.¹ In fact, global loss of work productivity because of AR has been shown to be significantly greater than that due to hypertension and diabetes mellitus.^1,2 AR can be complicated with comorbidities of both the upper and lower airways, including rhinosinusitis and asthma, which may contribute to the reported impact on productivity and quality of life.³

In a survey of over 500 European participants, nearly 50% reported sleep issues related to their AR.⁴ The AR symptoms most frequently reported to affect sleep were stuffy/runny nose or itching of the nose/palate and other head symptoms.⁴ Furthermore, poor sleep was demonstrated to have an impact on work attendance, productivity, and nonwork activity, with an average of 12.0% of work time missed over the past 7 days, 46.9% impairment while working (presenteeism), 53.3% overall work impairment, and 47.1% non–work-related activity impairment.⁴ A cross-sectional analysis revealed that self-reported AR was significantly associated with higher total lost productive time, defined as the combination of absenteeism and presenteeism.⁵

Early control of AR is needed; however, physicians may underestimate patients’ symptom burden, which can lead to potential undertreatment or mismanagement of the disease.⁶ AR treatment selection is based on symptoms, symptom severity, patient preferences, availability, and cost.⁷ A knowledge-based clinical decision support system has been developed.⁸ This system is based on visual analog scale (VAS) measurements, which are used to make step-up or step-down decisions about treatment.

Often, AR severity is assessed using VAS, which is a validated instrument that is simple and widely used. The best cut-off VAS scores for differentiating among mild, moderate, and severe disease have been identified as 40 and 70 on a scale of 0 to 100. Importantly, the VAS values defined by MACVIA/ARIA related to AR control include cut-off points at >50 mm for uncontrolled disease, 20–50 mm for partly controlled disease, and <20 mm for well-controlled disease.⁹ The use of 50 mm as a cut-off in this survey for assessing patients with uncontrolled disease is supported by the same VAS score used to indicate moderate to severe AR in previous studies.^10,11

Current 2019 ARIA guidelines recommend the following treatments: step 1 – nonsedating H1-antihistamine (oral, intranasal, ocular), leukotriene receptor antagonists, or cromones (intranasal, ocular); step 2 – intranasal corticosteroid (INCS); step 3 – INCS plus intranasal azelastine; step 4 – oral corticosteroid as a short course and an add-on treatment; step 5 – consider referral to a specialist and allergen immunotherapy.⁷

While the guidelines clearly delineate a treatment continuum, patients who are nonadherent to their current treatment may not need intensification of treatment if they were to take their medication according to instruction. More than 40% of patients prescribed medication for AR are not adherent to their treatment plan.¹² Lack of medication adherence can lead to poor symptom control in AR,¹³ and poor response to treatment should always prompt clinicians to assess adherence prior to changes in the treatment plan.¹⁴ Furthermore, shared decision-making is an important strategy to improved medication adherence. In addition, patient education and counseling are needed on the benefits of medication (eg, improved quality of life with symptom control),^15–17 as well as discussion regarding common causes of poor adherence, such as false expectations, concerns about treatment safety, past or potential side effects, and cost or lack of access to medications.^10,18

The current survey was designed to evaluate AR therapy decisions in routine clinical practice and to determine how these decisions are linked to experiences with previous treatments and current symptom severity as assessed by VAS.

Methods

Study Population

Patients aged 18 years or older (Spain) and 12 years or older (Hungary) who were previously diagnosed with AR and were consulting a physician for treatment of AR symptoms were considered for inclusion. Based on Spanish legislation, only patients aged 18 years or older could be enrolled. Only those patients experiencing acute symptoms on the day of consultation, as determined by the participating physician, were included in the convenience sample. There were no restrictions regarding concomitant medications.

Participating physicians included general practitioners, ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists, pulmonologists, dermatologists, and pediatricians. Physicians had to be using VAS routinely for AR symptom assessment as recommended by MACVIA/ARIA guidelines. Each physician/center could document up to 100 patients. There were 4 participating physicians.

Survey Design

In this multinational, multicenter, cross-sectional, noninterventional survey, there was 1 day of documentation when a patient visited the physician for treatment of AR symptoms. The decision to include a patient was made by the physicians independent of the treatment decision. After obtaining signed informed consent forms from participants or guardians, the following were recorded: demographic data and history of AR, AR treatments used within the last 7 days as reported by patients, the current AR therapy decision, and AR symptom severity measured via VAS. The first patient was recruited on October 3, 2018, and the visit of the last patient occurred on April 29, 2019.

Symptom Assessment

Physicians recorded how bothersome overall AR symptoms were in the previous 7 days, as documented by each patient on the VAS (0 mm, not at all bothersome; 100 mm, extremely bothersome) during the consultation visit. Physicians recorded the AR treatment prescribed during the visit, which could include the following: intranasal H1-antihistamine, intranasal decongestant, intranasal mast cell stabilizer, INCS, a fixed combination of INCS, and antihistamine, oral decongestant, oral H1-antihistamine (OAH), oral leukotriene antagonist, oral or nebulized corticosteroid, ocular H1-antihistamine, ocular mast cell stabilizer, any other, or unknown.

Therapy Description

AR therapies were categorized into steps adapted from the MACVIA clinical decision algorithm-the current guideline at the time of the study-as follows: step 1 – for mild symptoms, intranasal or oral nonsedating H1-antihistamine; step 2 – for moderate to severe symptoms and/or persistent AR, INCS (the dose of some INCS therapies can be increased according to the package insert); step 3 – for patients with uncontrolled symptoms at step 2 (current or historical), combination of INCS and intranasal H1-antihistamines (depending on the physician’s experience, other therapeutic strategies could be used); step 3a – free combination of Intranasal antihistamine (INAH)/OAH plus INCS; step 3b – fixed combination of INCS plus INAH; step 4 – it is possible that an additional short course of oral steroids may help to establish control and continue control by step 3 (intraocular cromones or H1-antihistamines may be added to improve the control of ocular symptoms). Each successive step represented an increase in treatment intensity.^7,8

Adverse Events

Adverse drug reactions were documented. Causality assessment was required for any adverse drug reaction. All cases judged by the reporting healthcare professional or by the sponsor as having a reasonable suspected causal relationship to the product qualified as adverse drug reactions.

Subpopulations

Data were analyzed in the overall population and in the following prespecified subpopulations (SP) if they corresponded to approximately 10% or more of the overall population. SP1: patients with no previous AR treatment within the last 7 days (untreated); SP2: patients with at least 1 previous AR treatment within the last 7 days (pretreated); SP3: patients with VAS <50 mm; SP4: patients with VAS ≥50 mm; SP5: patients with VAS <50 mm and untreated; SP6: patients with VAS <50 mm and pretreated; SP7: patients with VAS ≥50 mm and untreated; SP8: patients with VAS ≥50 mm and pretreated.

Statistical Analysis

Continuous variables were summarized by number, mean, standard deviation (SD), minimum, 5th percentile, lower quartile, median, upper quartile, 95th percentile, and maximum. Categorical variables were presented using frequency distribution tables with numbers and percentages. Data analysis was descriptive; therefore, no statistical tests were planned. SAS 9.4 software was used for data management and calculations.

Results

Spain

Overall, data from 211 patients were documented. Patients were excluded because of a lack of confirmed data or missing therapy decisions (n = 25) or because of age <18 years (n = 5). Of the patients included in the study (N = 181), 114 were female (63%). Most patients were aged 18 to 64 years (171; 94.5%), with 10 patients aged 65 years or older. The mean age was 41.5 years (range, 18–76 years). Within the previous 7 days, 72.9% of patients had received at least 1 AR treatment. The average duration of AR was 12.8 years. Subpopulations are described in Table 1.

Table 1 Patient Subpopulation Distribution – Spain

A total of 49 patients (27.1%) had received no treatment within the last 7 days, whereas 42 (23.3%) patients were treated according to step 1; 42 (23.2%) patients were treated according to step 2; 41 (22.7%) patients were treated according to step 3; and 7 patients (3.9%) were treated according to step 4. Among those patients treated according to step 3, 34 (82.9%) received a free combination of intranasal corticosteroid and oral or intranasal antihistamine (step 3a), and 7 patients (17.1%) received a fixed combination of intranasal corticosteroid and antihistamine (step 3b). Previous AR treatments are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Previous symptomatic AR treatments within the last 7 days – Spain. Multiple entries were possible.

Among patients who rated their symptoms as <50 mm on the VAS, most patients had received no treatment in the previous 7 days, followed by step 2 medication (Table 2). Among patients who rated their AR symptoms as ≥50 mm on the VAS, similar proportions of patients had received no treatment, step 1 medication, step 2 medication, and step 3 medication (Table 2).

Table 2 Previous Treatment per Step in Subpopulations – Spain

During the visit, 140 (77.3%) patients were prescribed step 3 treatment, 19 (10.5%) were prescribed step 2 treatment, 19 (8.3%) were prescribed step 1 treatment, and 11 (6.1%) patients each were prescribed step 1 and step 4 treatment. Among those prescribed step 3 treatment, 80.0% were prescribed a fixed combination, and 28.0% were prescribed a free combination of intranasal corticosteroid and oral or intranasal antihistamine.

The change of AR treatment during the visit in pretreated patients (subpopulation 2 [SP2]), pretreated patients with a VAS score of <50 mm (SP6), and pretreated patients with a VAS score of ≥50 mm (SP8) is shown in Figure 2. Similar trends in change of AR treatment during the visit were reported for SP2, SP6, and SP8. The largest proportion of each subpopulation received a step-up in treatment. The most commonly prescribed medications during the consultation visit are listed in Figure 3. The most common prescription was for a fixed combination of intranasal corticosteroid and antihistamine. The mean VAS of AR symptoms at the visit was 61.6 mm. No adverse drug reactions were reported.

Figure 2 Change of AR treatment during the visit – Spain.

Figure 3 List of AR treatments prescribed during the visit – Spain.

Hungary

Overall, data from 246 patients were documented. Patients were excluded because of a lack of confirmed data or missing therapy decisions (n = 18). Of the patients included in the study (N = 228), 122 were female (53.5%). Most patients were aged 18 to 64 years (193; 84.6%), with 12 (5.3%) patients aged 12 to 17 years and 23 (10.1%) patients aged 65 years or older. The mean age was 42.0 years (range, 13–84 years). Within the last 7 days, 67.1% of patients had at least 1 AR treatment. The average time since the start of AR symptoms was 9.7 years. A total of 180 (78.9%) patients reported a VAS of ≥50 mm for overall AR symptoms. Subpopulations are described in Table 3.

Table 3 Patient Subpopulation Distribution – Hungary

A total of 75 patients (32.9%) had received no treatment within the last 7 days, whereas 74 (32.5%) patients were treated according to step 1; 45 (19.7%) patients were treated according to step 2; 33 (14.5%) patients were treated according to step 3; and 1 patient (0.4%) was treated according to step 4. Among those patients treated according to step 3, 75.8% received a free combination of intranasal corticosteroid and oral or intranasal antihistamine (step 3a) and 24.2% received a fixed combination of intranasal corticosteroid and antihistamine (step 3b). Previous AR treatments are shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 Previous symptomatic AR treatments within the last 7 days – Hungary. Multiple entries were possible.

Among patients who rated their symptoms <50 mm on the VAS, most patients received step 2 treatment, followed by no treatment in the previous 7 days (Table 4). Among patients who rated their AR symptoms as ≥50 mm on VAS, most patients received no treatment or step 1 medication (Table 4).

Table 4 Previous Treatment per Step in Subpopulations – Hungary

During the visit, 147 (64.5%) patients were prescribed step 3 treatment, 60 (26.3%) were prescribed step 2 treatment, 19 (8.3%) were prescribed step 1 treatment, and 1 (0.4%) patient each was prescribed step 4 treatment and no treatment. Among those patients prescribed step 3 treatment, 65.3% were prescribed a fixed combination, and 34.7% were prescribed a free combination of intranasal corticosteroid and oral or intranasal antihistamine.

The change of AR treatment during the visit in pretreated patients (SP2, pretreated patients with a VAS score of <50 mm [SP6] and pretreated patients with a VAS score of ≥50 mm [SP8]) is shown in Figure 5. The medications most commonly prescribed during the consultation visit are listed in Figure 6. The average VAS at the visit was 62.1 mm. A single adverse event was reported (0.4%), which was mild drowsiness after drug intake that resolved after 4 days. It was determined as possible causality for association with medication in the last 7 days (intranasal corticosteroid, oral first-generation H1-antihistamine).

Figure 5 Change of AR treatment during the visit – Hungary.

Figure 6 List of AR treatments prescribed during the visit – Hungary.

Discussion

These results demonstrate that a majority of patients in our study population reported uncontrolled symptoms despite previous treatment, including those who used INCS or a free combination of INCS and antihistamines. Most patients with uncontrolled symptoms who had received previous AR therapy within the past 7 days received therapy modification according to the MACVIA algorithm.⁸ However, more than 27% (Hungary) and 40% (Spain) of patients with uncontrolled symptoms who received previous therapy did not receive a step-up as suggested by the guidelines. This may have been the result of physician and/or patient preference to maintain the current treatment plan despite guidelines, or it may have been determined that poor AR symptom control was the result of patient nonadherence to the treatment plan and thus adherence should be improved before determining whether additional or different medication is necessary.

A considerable proportion of uncontrolled patients were prescribed multiple medications on the same step before being moved to the next step of AR therapy. In Hungary, the prescription decision was less dependent on whether patients were pretreated and more dependent on symptom severity. Most patients with a VAS of ≥50 mm received step 3 medication (73%), whereas 50% of patients with a VAS of <50 mm received step 2 medication. In Spain, the prescribing decision was less dependent on symptom control level (VAS) and more dependent on whether the patient was pretreated. During the visit, the most frequently prescribed medication was a fixed combination of intranasal corticosteroid and intranasal antihistamine (step 3b, 65.7%). Reasons for this prescribing decision may include the high rate of persistent AR and the high rate of pretreatment failure in Spain, which could require stronger treatment according to the treatment decision algorithm. According to the MACVIA clinical decision algorithm,⁸ all pretreated patients with a VAS of ≥50 mm (SP8) should receive step-up treatment, whereas pretreated patients with a VAS of <50 mm (SP6) may receive either step-down/stop (if intermittent rhinitis/no allergen exposure) or maintain/step-up (persistent rhinitis or allergen exposure). This may explain why the individual decision in SP6 resulted in differences between countries.

Disease management may have also differed between countries for several other reasons, such as available treatment options, treatment access (reimbursement), and potential staffing of general practitioners vs specialists, who often prescribe differently.

Previous studies in other countries have reported a lack of adherence to guideline-recommended management of AR, as well as reports of underdiagnosis and undertreatment of AR that support our results. For example, in 1277 Danish adults, 122 of 280 (43.6%) people with AR had not received treatment in the past 12 months and 43.4% had not received a diagnosis.¹⁹ In a random sample of 726 adolescents and adults in Copenhagen, Denmark, 83% of patients were undertreated and 32% were undiagnosed.²⁰

The use of the VAS has been a guideline recommended for years to improve the management of AR, because physicians often underestimate patient burden, which leads to undertreatment.^6,19 Therefore, using the VAS may improve communication between physicians and patients, which will allow for the correct assessment of disease burden and, consequently, the appropriate AR management/symptom control.

Although MACVIA was the current treatment algorithm at the time of the survey,⁸ the treatment guidelines have since been updated. Based on the current ARIA guidelines, a free combination of INCS plus OAH (used as step 3a medications in this study) was not found to be more effective than INCS alone and therefore would be considered as step 2.⁷ Based on study results, many patients using step 3a medications were uncontrolled and switched to step 3b (fixed combination of INCS plus INAH) during the consultation, which supports the current ARIA algorithm.

This study has several limitations. As it was an observational study in a real-life setting of a convenience sample, there is potential for the presence of confounding bias. It must be noted that there is a potential bias toward patients with a higher disease burden, since patients were presenting to their clinician with acute AR symptoms and therefore may not be representative of the broader population with AR. In the current study, symptom control was assessed using VAS measurements that were then used to make step-up or step-down decisions for treatment; however, several factors could have influenced clinicians’ treatment decisions, including length and type of previous treatment, assessment of correct medication delivery technique, patient adherence to treatment, and patient preferences. Furthermore, it is likely that some patients were experiencing seasonal triggers during the study period that may have affected treatment decisions. In Spain, tree pollen is active from January to May and weed pollen is active from June to November; in Hungary, ragweed pollen peaks in August to October, whereas other pollen levels are elevated from February through June. The rationale for treatment decisions was not assessed in the current study. Future studies may gather more information regarding AR control by assessing VAS changes with previous and future treatments, and effects on quality of life using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, which were beyond the scope of the current study.

Conclusions

These data underscore the need for physician education to improve AR management and control in accordance with consensus treatment guidelines. Improvement of communication between patients and physicians is needed to facilitate more appropriate diagnosis and treatment decisions.