5 research outputs found
a retrospective cohort analysis
Background Allergy immunotherapy is an effective treatment for patients with
allergic rhinitis whose symptoms are unresolved with pharmacotherapy. Allergy
immunotherapy for grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis is available in three
modalities: subcutaneous immunotherapy and sublingual immunotherapy as a
tablet or drop. This study aimed to understand trends in allergy immunotherapy
prescribing and practice patterns for grass allergies in adult and paediatric
patients in Germany. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using
IMS Disease Analyzer in Germany. Patients with an allergy immunotherapy
prescription for grass pollen (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical [ATC]
classification code V01AA02) from September 2005 to December 2012 were
included in the study. General Practitioners (GPs), dermatologists, Ear, Nose
and Throat (ENT)-specialists, paediatricians and pneumologists were included
as the allergy immunotherapy prescribing physicians in the study. Descriptive
analyses were conducted on patient characteristics at index and prescribing
physician specialty; a test for trend was conducted for timing of initiation
of first allergy immunotherapy prescription in each annual prescribing season.
Results Eighteen thousand eight hundred fifty eligible patients were
identified during the study period. The majority of patients received
subcutaneous immunotherapy; however, the proportion of patients receiving
sublingual immunotherapy tablets increased from 8 % in 2006/2007 to 29 % in
2011/2012 (p < 0.001). Initiation of subcutaneous immunotherapy and Oralair®
generally peaked during each prescribing year in two seasons (September-
October and January) while GRAZAX® prescriptions peaked in autumn (September-
October). ENT-specialists and dermatologists were the largest allergy
immunotherapy prescribers in adults, while paediatricians and ENT-specialists
were the largest prescribers of allergy immunotherapy in paediatric patients.
Conclusions Subcutaneous immunotherapy remained the dominant allergy
immunotherapy modality for grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in Germany
for adult and paediatric patients; however, there was a marked increase in
proportion of patients receiving sublingual immunotherapy tablets from
2006/2007 to 2011/2012, after their introduction to the market in 2006. ENT-
specialists, dermatologists and paediatricians were responsible for the
majority of prescribing. The predominance of particular modalities within
certain physician specialties likely reflects different treatment goals or
needs
Estimation of health-related utility (EQ-5D index) in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to evaluate health gain associated with sublingual grass allergen immunotherapy
Abstract Background: Grass allergen immunotherapy (AIT) reduces symptom severity in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) but its impact on general health-related utility has not been characterised for the purposes of economic evaluation. The aim of this study was to model the preferred measure of utility, EQ-5D index, from symptom severity and estimate incremental quality adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with SQ-standardised grass immunotherapy tablet (GRAZAX®, 75,000 SQ-T/2,800 BAU, ALK, Denmark). Methods: Data were analysed from five consecutive pollen seasons in a randomised placebo controlled trial of GRAZAX®. Binomial and Gaussian mixed effects modelling related weekly EQ-5D index score to daily symptom and medication scores (DSS & DMS respectively). In turn, daily EQ-5D index was estimated from ARC symptoms and medication use
208 Compliance and Persistence to Grass Immunotherapy Treatment is Comparable for Allergy Immunotherapy Tablets and Subcutaneous Immunotherapy
Cost-minimization analysis of sublingual immunotherapy versus subcutaneous immunotherapy for house dust mite respiratory allergic disease in Denmark
ArguLens: Anatomy of Community Opinions On Usability Issues Using Argumentation Models
In open-source software (OSS), the design of usability is often influenced by the discussions among community members on platforms such as issue tracking systems (ITSs). However, digesting the rich information embedded in issue discussions can be a major challenge due to the vast number and diversity of the comments. We propose and evaluate ArguLens, a conceptual framework and automated technique leveraging an argumentation model to support effective understanding and consolidation of community opinions in ITSs. Through content analysis, we anatomized highly discussed usability issues from a large, active OSS project, into their argumentation components and standpoints. We then experimented with supervised machine learning techniques for automated argument extraction. Finally, through a study with experienced ITS users, we show that the information provided by ArguLens supported the digestion of usability-related opinions and facilitated the review of lengthy issues. ArguLens provides the direction of designing valuable tools for high-level reasoning and effective discussion about usability