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The minimal clinically important difference of app-based electronic patient-reported outcomes for hay fever
Ken Nagino1,2,3, Jaemyoung Sung2,4, Akie Midorikawa-Inomata1
1Department of Hospital Administration, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
Hay fever is a common allergic disease, with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 14.4% and a variety of symptoms. This study assessed the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of nasal symptom score (NSS), non-nasal symptom score (NNSS), and total symptoms score (TSS) for app-based hay-fever monitoring.
Methods:
MCIDs were calculated based on the data from a previous large-scale, crowdsourced, cross-sectional study using AllerSearch, an in-house smartphone application. MCIDs were determined with anchor-based and distribution-based methods. The face scale score of the Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Disease Standard Quality of Life Questionnaire Domain III and the daily stress level due to hay fever were used as anchors for determining MCIDs. The MCID estimates were summarized as MCID ranges.
Results:
A total of 7590 participants were included in the analysis (mean age: 35.3 years, 57.1% women). The anchor-based method produced a range of MCID values (median, interquartile range) for NSS (2.0, 1.5-2.1), NNSS (1.0, 0.9-1.2), and TSS (2.9, 2.4-3.3). The distribution-based method produced two MCIDs (based on half a standard deviation, based on a standard error of measurement) for NSS (2.0, 1.8), NNSS (1.3, 1.2), and TSS (3.0, 2.3). The final suggested MCID ranges for NSS, NNSS, and TSS were 1.8-2.1, 1.2-1.3, and 2.4-3.3, respectively.
Conclusions:
MCID ranges for app-based hay-fever symptom assessment were obtained from the data collected through a smartphone application, AllerSearch. These estimates may be useful for monitoring the subjective symptoms of Japanese patients with hay fever through mobile platforms.
Insights
This study determined the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for hay fever symptom scores using a smartphone app. The findings provide valuable MCID ranges for monitoring allergic rhinitis symptoms via mobile health platforms.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Digital Health
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) affects 14.4% globally, presenting diverse symptoms.
- App-based monitoring offers a scalable approach to track symptom severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for nasal symptom score (NSS), non-nasal symptom score (NNSS), and total symptom score (TSS).
- To validate these MCIDs for use in app-based hay fever monitoring systems.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from a large-scale, crowdsourced study employing the AllerSearch smartphone application.
- Applied both anchor-based (using quality of life and stress scales) and distribution-based methods to calculate MCIDs.
- Summarized MCID estimates into practical ranges.
Main Results:
- Analyzed data from 7590 participants (57.1% female, mean age 35.3 years).
- Anchor-based MCID ranges: NSS (2.0, 1.5-2.1), NNSS (1.0, 0.9-1.2), TSS (2.9, 2.4-3.3).
- Distribution-based MCIDs supported these ranges, leading to final suggested MCID ranges: NSS (1.8-2.1), NNSS (1.2-1.3), TSS (2.4-3.3).
Conclusions:
- Established MCID ranges for app-based assessment of hay fever symptoms.
- These MCID values, derived from smartphone data, can aid in monitoring Japanese patients' subjective hay fever symptoms via mobile platforms.
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