Seasonal allergic rhinitis and its control with antihistamines in an outpatient practice.

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a significant social and medical problem of modern healthcare. The treatment of patients with AR is based on a stepwise approach, the purpose of which is to fully control the symptoms. The first stage drugs of choice are oral non-sedative antihistamines of the second generation. A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Allerway and drugs containing cetirizine to control the symptoms of seasonal AR (SAR) in an outpatient practice. The data obtained in the framework of a multicenter prospective noninterventional study (the short name of the study is LEVADA) were analyzed. Data were collected at 5 centers using scales for assessement of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis: rTNSS, miniRQLQ, visual analog scale and the Epworth sleepiness scale. The dynamics of SAR symptoms was assessed using the rTNSS scale (24 hours) after 7 and 14 days of treatment. A total of 100 patients were included in the study; 97 patients completed the study. Of these, 46 (47.42%) were women and 51 (52.57%) were men aged 18 years. The average duration of the diagnosis of SAR in patients before inclusion in the study in the Allerway group was 97.485.51 months (about 8 years), in the cetirizine group 107.0114.62 months (about 8.9 years), p=0.641. The efficacy of regressing the intensity of SAR symptoms on the rTNSS scale was demonstrated to be (average and average error) 2.920.11 points in the group of patients taking Allerway and 2.930.11 points in the group of patients taking cetirizine. After 7 days, there was an increase in the proportion of patients with a complete absence of the main symptoms of SAR: nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, itching in the nose. In the group of patients taking Allerway in 44 out of 49 patients (89.8%), it was noted that on average, after 39.414.35 minutes, symptom relief was observed in 42 of 48 (87.5%) patients, and in patients taking cetirizine, relief of rhinitis symptoms was noted during 44.013.76 minutes. An improvement in the quality of life was noted by reducing the severity of symptoms on the miniRQLQ scale by 44.315.29 points in the Allerway group and by 45.013.03 in the group receiving cetirizine. It was shown that the use of Allerway (at a dose of 5 mg, once a day) and preparations containing cetirizine (at a dose of 10 mg, with a single dose per day), allows to achieve a positive clinical effect in the treatment of patients with SAR (seasonal allergic rhinitis) in outpatient practice within 7 and 14 days with a high level of safety and compliance.