P07 - Treatment load in the therapy management of allergic rhinitis: a UK retrospective database study

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is poorly controlled. Treated patients, even those on multiple therapies still experience symptoms. In a UK survey, 70.5% of moderate-to-severe AR patients took ≥2 medications (either Rx or over the counter) in an attempt to achieve better and faster symptom relief.

Aim

To explore the extent of co-prescribing by UK general practitioners (GPs) during the hay-fever season in patients with seasonal AR (SAR), perennial AR (PAR), and comorbid asthma.

Method

A retrospective database study using the Optimum Patient Care Research Database consisting of data extracted from GP records supplemented with patient-reported outcomes from questionnaires. Patients included in the analysis had a recorded AR diagnosis and ≥1 AR therapy scripts during 1st March 2010 to 31st Augu37st 2010.

Results

In all, 22,381 AR patients were included. Results are summarized in the table.

Table 1

Conclusion

In contrast to previous surveys, these data relate to prescriptions only and show a high level of co-prescribing behavior among UK GPs. There was a significant shift to combination therapy during the season, particularly for PAR patients, with strong co-prescription evident regardless of asthma co-morbidity. These data indicate that (i) UK GPs are aware that current therapy provides insufficient symptom relief, (ii) that AR is a costly disease to treat requiring several GP visits over the season for therapy modification and (iii) there is a need for an AR therapy which provides more complete symptom relief.