Persistence in allergen immunotherapy: A longitudinal, prescription data-based real-world analysis

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Pharmacovigilance
• Public Health

Background:

• Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent condition with increasing incidence.
• Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the only causal treatment for AR, available via subcutaneous (SCIT) or sublingual (SLIT) routes.
• Treatment persistence is crucial for AIT efficacy but is often impaired, impacting public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare patient persistence rates for SCIT and SLIT in allergic rhinitis.
• To identify factors influencing AIT treatment adherence.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of prescription data (IQVIA™ LRx) from 2009-2018.
• Inclusion of patients treated for grass pollen, early flowering tree pollen, or house dust mite allergens.
• Classification by AIT route (dSCIT, oSCIT, SLIT) and age groups (5-11, 12-17, 18+ years), with follow-up for up to 3 years.

Main Results:

• Persistence decreased with increasing age across all allergen categories and AIT types.
• First-year persistence was notably low for SLIT (22.2%-27.1%).
• First-year persistence was higher for dSCIT (52.0%-64.1%) and oSCIT (38.3%-50.3%).

Conclusions:

• Persistence rates for AIT in allergic rhinitis are generally low.
• Patient age and the route of administration (SCIT vs. SLIT) significantly influence AIT persistence.