Use of specific immunotherapy--a survey of 15 164 employed persons in Germany

TY - JOUR

T1 - Use of specific immunotherapy--a survey of 15 164 employed persons in Germany

AU - Weberschock, Tobias

AU - Schäfer, Ines

AU - Heigel, Hagen

AU - Valesky, Eva

AU - Augustin, Matthias

AU - Schmitt, Jochen

N1 - © 2014 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2014/4/1

Y1 - 2014/4/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) leads to high morbidity and costs. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is a potentially curative therapy for AR. The -decision whether or not to employ SIT is often not totally clear.PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 2012/13, as part of company skin cancer screening -programs, employed persons between the ages of 16-70 were asked about use of allergy-related medications and atopic conditions, as well as the use of SIT or possible reasons preventing its use.RESULTS: Of the 15,164 persons surveyed, 26.2% (n = 3,966) reported they had allergies that might benefit from SIT therapy. Of these, only 31.7% (n = 1,470) had undergone SIT therapy, with 63.3% (n = 931) describing the treatment as successful. The main reasons given for not undergoing SIT were relatively minor symptoms (51.2%; n = 1,278), little confidence in the success of therapy, and lack of time (12%; n = 300). Only 5.2%, n = 129) stated that avoiding allergens was sufficient or that they could not undergo SIT because of other health problems. Another 5.2% (n = 130) said they had either not heard of SIT, or had not found a place to undergo treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Although about one-quarter of respondents reported allergies that might benefit from SIT, less than one-third had undergone treatment. The main -reason was having mild symptoms; guideline or healthcare-related issues were -responsible only to a limited extent.

AB - BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) leads to high morbidity and costs. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is a potentially curative therapy for AR. The -decision whether or not to employ SIT is often not totally clear.PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 2012/13, as part of company skin cancer screening -programs, employed persons between the ages of 16-70 were asked about use of allergy-related medications and atopic conditions, as well as the use of SIT or possible reasons preventing its use.RESULTS: Of the 15,164 persons surveyed, 26.2% (n = 3,966) reported they had allergies that might benefit from SIT therapy. Of these, only 31.7% (n = 1,470) had undergone SIT therapy, with 63.3% (n = 931) describing the treatment as successful. The main reasons given for not undergoing SIT were relatively minor symptoms (51.2%; n = 1,278), little confidence in the success of therapy, and lack of time (12%; n = 300). Only 5.2%, n = 129) stated that avoiding allergens was sufficient or that they could not undergo SIT because of other health problems. Another 5.2% (n = 130) said they had either not heard of SIT, or had not found a place to undergo treatment.CONCLUSIONS: Although about one-quarter of respondents reported allergies that might benefit from SIT, less than one-third had undergone treatment. The main -reason was having mild symptoms; guideline or healthcare-related issues were -responsible only to a limited extent.

U2 - 10.1111/ddg.12298

DO - 10.1111/ddg.12298

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 24650344

VL - 12

SP - 341

EP - 345

JO - J DTSCH DERMATOL GES

JF - J DTSCH DERMATOL GES

SN - 1610-0379

IS - 4

ER -