The proposed study will evaluate the unmet therapy need in seasonal rhinitis by aiming to answer the following research questions 1. What is the first prescription of the hay-fever season and how many of these patients are on some form of combination therapy? 2. To what extent does initial therapy not meet clinical need (as measured by need for additional medical intervention in terms of consultations and changes in therapy)? 3. Does treatment for allergic rhinitis differ for asthma Vs non-asthma and seasonal Vs perennial patients?
Allergic rhinitis is a chronic respiratory disease with a major impact on quality of life. In a study looking at the burden of allergic rhinitis amongst UK patients 75% reported some impact of their allergic rhinitis symptoms on health-related quality of life. Allergic rhinitis currently affects 10-30% of the world population with prevalence and impact continuing to increase. This leads to substantial economic costs both of prescription medication and time taken off work by both patients and carers due to the disease. In view of this, there may be a substantial need for improved therapy or management to ensure that patients with allergic rhinitis can carry out a normal lifestyle. The proposed study will evaluate the unmet therapy need in seasonal rhinitis by examining the current medication requirements of patients who suffer from seasonal grass-pollen hay fever and determining whether current therapies are sufficient for managing rhinitis. This study aims to evaluate the unmet therapy need in seasonal rhinitis by - 1. Examining and describing current medication requirements 2. Quantifying the extent of co-prescribing of multiple agents 3. Comparing the effectiveness of current prescription drugs for managing and controlling patient's seasonal rhinitis and using changes in treatment during the hay fever season to determine the effectiveness of current therapy options. for managing and controlling seasonal rhinitis in primary care patients who suffer from seasonal grass-pollen hay fever.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
21,203
Research in Real Life Ltd
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Co-prescribing
The proportion of patients managed at the index prescription date with more than one class of therapy
Time frame: 31.11.12
Treatment Outcomes
For those patients who receive a prescription for a diagnosis of seasonal rhinitis/ hay fever. The following outcomes will be measured - * Patients who remain on the same therapy * Patients who change therapy within same therapy group * Patients who add additional therapy from another therapy group
Time frame: 10.12.12
Number of Consultations
Defined as a consultation where an allergic rhinitis read code or hay fever code is recorded during the hay fever season.
Time frame: 10.12.12
Asthma Patients - Exacerbations: Clinical
where exacerbation is defined as an occurrence of the following: a)Lower respiratory related : Hospital attendance/admission OR A \& E attendance; OR Out-of-hours attendance; * GP consultations for lower respiratory related tract infections; * Acute use of oral steroids .
Time frame: 10.12.12
Asthma Patients - Exacerbations: Severe
b)Asthma related - Hospital attendance/admission OR A \& E attendance; OR Out-of-hours attendance; GP consultations for asthma related tract infections; Acute use of oral steroids
Time frame: 10.12.12
Costing Analysis
Descriptive analysis of costs at the first prescription and final prescription of the season. Comparing those who remain on same therapy and those who add therapy during the season.
Time frame: 15.01.13
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