Use of specific immunotherapy--a survey of 15 164 employed persons in Germany
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Use of specific immunotherapy--a survey of 15 164 employed persons in Germany. / Weberschock, Tobias; Schäfer, Ines; Heigel, Hagen; Valesky, Eva; Augustin, Matthias; Schmitt, Jochen.
In: J DTSCH DERMATOL GES, Vol. 12, No. 4, 01.04.2014, p. 341-5.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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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 -