DIRAE study: seasonal allergic rhinitis distribution in Spain

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Epidemiology
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is a common condition impacting quality of life.
• Understanding care variations between primary care physicians (GPs) and allergists (ALs) is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in the management and outcomes of pollinic SAR patients treated by GPs versus ALs.
• To assess rhinitis severity, treatment patterns, and symptom control based on physician specialty.

Main Methods:

• A national epidemiological study involving 758 GP-recruited and 739 AL-recruited adult patients with SAR.
• Physician questionnaires collected ARIA classification, treatment, and asthma incidence data.
• Patient-reported rhinitis severity via visual analogical scale (VAS) and rhinitis control assessments.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in ARIA classification or rhinitis severity were observed between GP and AL patient groups.
• Oral antihistamines were the most common treatment (92.3% GPs, 89.3% ALs).
• Nasal corticosteroid use was higher with GPs (76.7%) than ALs (60.4%), while immunotherapy was more frequent with ALs (31.9%).
• Asthma prevalence was linked to rhinitis persistence and severity.

Conclusions:

• Patients with pollinic SAR exhibit comparable rhinitis severity regardless of whether they are managed by GPs or ALs.
• A significant proportion of SAR patients, less than half, experience controlled rhinitis symptoms, indicating a need for improved management strategies.