1 research outputs found
Chronic urticaria in the realâlife clinical practice setting in the UK: results from the nonâinterventional multicentre AWARE study
Abstract
Background
Chronic urticaria (CU) is a skin condition characterised by repeated occurrence of itchy wheals and/or angioedema for >6 weeks.
Aim
To provide data demonstrating the realâlife burden of CU in the UK.
Methods
This UK subset of the worldwide, prospective, nonâinterventional AWARE study included patients aged 18â75 years diagnosed with H1âantihistamine (H1âAH)ârefractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) for >2 months. Baseline characteristics, disease activity, treatments, comorbidities and healthcare resource use were documented. Quality of life, work productivity and activity impairment were assessed.
Results
Baseline analysis included 252 UK patients. Mean age and body mass index were 45.0 years and 29.0 kg/m2, respectively. Most patients were female (77.8%) and had moderate/severe disease activity (mean Urticaria Activity Score over 7 days, 18.4) and a âspontaneousâ component to their CU (73.4% CSU; 24.6% CSU and chronic inducible urticaria). Common comorbidities included depression/anxiety (24.6%), asthma (23.8%) and allergic rhinitis (12.7%). A previous treatment was recorded for 57.9% of patients. Mean Dermatology Life Quality Index score was 9.5 and patients reported impairments in work productivity and activity. Healthcare resource use was high. Severity of CSU was associated with gender, obesity, anxiety and diagnosis. Only 28.5% of patients completed all nine study visits, limiting analysis of longâterm treatment patterns and disease impact.
Conclusions
Adult H1âAHârefractory CU patients in the UK reported high rates of healthcare resource use and impairment in quality of life, work productivity and activity at baseline. The differing structures of UK healthcare may explain the high study discontinuation rates versus other countries