Most cited article - PubMed ID 35258105
Behavioural patterns in allergic rhinitis medication in Europe: A study using MASK-air® real-world data
BACKGROUND: Adherence to rhinitis treatment has been insufficiently assessed. We aimed to use data from the MASK-air mHealth app to assess adherence to oral antihistamines (OAH), intra-nasal corticosteroids (INCS) or azelastine-fluticasone in patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS: We included regular European MASK-air users with self-reported allergic rhinitis and reporting at least 1 day of OAH, INCS or azelastine-fluticasone. We assessed weeks during which patients answered the MASK-air questionnaire on all days. We restricted our analyses to data provided between January and June, to encompass the pollen seasons across the different assessed countries. We analysed symptoms using visual analogue scales (VASs) and the combined symptom-medication score (CSMS), performing stratified analyses by weekly adherence levels. Medication adherence was computed as the proportion of days in which patients reported rhinitis medication use. Sensitivity analyses were performed considering all weeks with at most 1 day of missing data and all months with at most 4 days of missing data. RESULTS: We assessed 8212 complete weeks (1361 users). Adherence (use of medication > 80% days) to specific drug classes ranged from 31.7% weeks for azelastine-fluticasone to 38.5% weeks for OAH. Similar adherence to rhinitis medication was found in users with or without self-reported asthma, except for INCS (better adherence in asthma patients). VAS and CSMS levels increased from no adherence to full adherence, except for INCS. A higher proportion of days with uncontrolled symptoms was observed in weeks with higher adherence. In full adherence weeks, 41.2% days reported rhinitis co-medication. The sensitivity analyses displayed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: A high adherence was found in patients reporting regular use of MASK-air. Different adherence patterns were found for INCS compared to OAH or azelastine-fluticasone that are likely to impact guidelines.
- Keywords
- allergic rhinitis, mobile health, treatment adherence,
- MeSH
- Medication Adherence * MeSH
- Rhinitis, Allergic * drug therapy epidemiology MeSH
- Anti-Allergic Agents * therapeutic use MeSH
- Histamine Antagonists therapeutic use administration & dosage MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Phthalazines therapeutic use MeSH
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones therapeutic use administration & dosage MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
- Pollen * immunology adverse effects MeSH
- Seasons MeSH
- Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal * drug therapy epidemiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Europe epidemiology MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Anti-Allergic Agents * MeSH
- Histamine Antagonists MeSH
- azelastine MeSH Browser
- Phthalazines MeSH
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones MeSH
MASK-air® , a validated mHealth app (Medical Device regulation Class IIa) has enabled large observational implementation studies in over 58,000 people with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. It can help to address unmet patient needs in rhinitis and asthma care. MASK-air® is a Good Practice of DG Santé on digitally-enabled, patient-centred care. It is also a candidate Good Practice of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). MASK-air® data has enabled novel phenotype discovery and characterisation, as well as novel insights into the management of allergic rhinitis. MASK-air® data show that most rhinitis patients (i) are not adherent and do not follow guidelines, (ii) use as-needed treatment, (iii) do not take medication when they are well, (iv) increase their treatment based on symptoms and (v) do not use the recommended treatment. The data also show that control (symptoms, work productivity, educational performance) is not always improved by medications. A combined symptom-medication score (ARIA-EAACI-CSMS) has been validated for clinical practice and trials. The implications of the novel MASK-air® results should lead to change management in rhinitis and asthma.
