14 research outputs found
Allergic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic—Clinical practical considerations:An European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology survey
BACKGROUND: The COVID‐19 pandemic has affected health care systems unexpectedly. However, data focusing on practical considerations experienced by health care professionals (HCPs) providing care to allergic patients is scarce. METHODS: Under the framework of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), a panel of experts in the field of immunotherapy developed a 42‐question online survey, to evaluate real‐life consequences of the COVID‐19 pandemic in allergy practice. RESULTS: The respondents in the survey were 618. About 80% of HCPs indicated being significantly affected in their allergy practice. A face‐to‐face visit reduction was reported by 93% of HCPs and about a quarter completely interrupted diagnostic challenges. Patients with severe uncontrolled asthma (59%) and anaphylaxis (47%) were prioritized for in‐person care. About 81% maintained an unaltered prescription of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in asthmatics. About 90% did not modify intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) in patients with allergic rhinitis. Nearly half of respondents kept biological prescriptions unmodified for asthma. About 50% of respondents kept their allergen immunotherapy (AIT) prescription patterns unchanged for respiratory allergies; 60% for insect venom allergies. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies was initiated by 27%. About 20% kept carrying out up‐dosing without modifications and 14% changed to more prolonged intervals. Telemedicine practice was increased. CONCLUSIONS: HCPs providing care to allergic patients were affected during the pandemic in diagnostic, management, and therapeutic approaches, including AIT for respiratory, insect‐venom, and food allergies. Most HCPs maintained controller treatments for both asthma, and allergic rhinitis consistent with international recommendations, as well as biological agents in asthma. Remote tools are valuable in delivering allergy care
Next-generation ARIA care pathways for rhinitis and asthma: a model for multimorbid chronic diseases
Background In all societies, the burden and cost of allergic and chronic
respiratory diseases are increasing rapidly. Most economies are
struggling to deliver modern health care effectively. There is a need to
support the transformation of the health care system into integrated
care with organizational health literacy. Main body As an example for
chronic disease care, MASK (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK), a new
project of the ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma)
initiative, and POLLAR (Impact of Air POLLution on Asthma and Rhinitis,
EIT Health), in collaboration with professional and patient
organizations in the field of allergy and airway diseases, are proposing
real-life ICPs centred around the patient with rhinitis, and using
mHealth to monitor environmental exposure. Three aspects of care
pathways are being developed: (i) Patient participation, health literacy
and self-care through technology-assisted “patient activation”, (ii)
Implementation of care pathways by pharmacists and (iii) Next-generation
guidelines assessing the recommendations of GRADE guidelines in rhinitis
and asthma using real-world evidence (RWE) obtained through mobile
technology. The EU and global political agendas are of great importance
in supporting the digital transformation of health and care, and MASK
has been recognized by DG Sante as a Good Practice in the field of
digitally-enabled, integrated, person-centred care. Conclusion In 20
years, ARIA has considerably evolved from the first multimorbidity
guideline in respiratory diseases to the digital transformation of
health and care with a strong political involvement