High baseline prevalence of atopic comorbidities and medication use in children treated with allergy immunotherapy in the REAl-world effeCtiveness in allergy immunoTherapy (REACT) study.

Background

Respiratory allergy, commonly manifesting as allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma, is a chronic progressive disease that frequently starts in childhood. Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is the only causal treatment for respiratory allergy with the potential to modify the underlying cause of allergy and, ultimately, prevent disease progression. This analysis aimed to determine if AIT is received sufficiently early to halt the progression of allergic disease, by characterizing the burden and progression of disease in children prior to AIT initiation in real-life clinical practice.

Methods

The REAl-world effeCtiveness in allergy immunoTherapy (REACT) study was a large retrospective cohort study using German claims data between 2007 and 2017. Characteristics of two pre-defined AIT age cohorts from the REACT study - children (aged <18 years) and adults (aged ≥18 years) - were evaluated during the 1-year period before the first AIT prescription. For comparison, a control group of all subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of AR and without prescriptions for AIT was included. Burden of disease was assessed using diagnostic codes for atopic comorbidities [e.g., atopic dermatitis (AD), asthma, and acute allergic conjunctivitis] and non-atopic comorbidities (e.g., migraine, headache); medication use, recorded as prescriptions for symptom-relieving AR medication and reliever/controller medication for asthma, was also assessed. Data were analyzed descriptively, using summary statistics.

Results

Both children (

Conclusions

Children with AR who are offered AIT in real-life show considerable disease burden prior to initiation. As AIT may alleviate the burden and halt the progression of allergic disease, considering AIT earlier in the disease course may be warranted.

Informations de copyright

© 2023 Fritzsching, Porsbjerg, Buchs, Larsen, Freemantle and Contoli.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

MC reports personal fees from ALK-Abelló; personal fees and non-financial support from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Zambon; grants, personal fees and non-financial support from Chiesi and GlaxoSmithKline; and grants from the University of Ferrara, Italy. CP reports grants from ALK-Abelló, and grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Chiesi, Sanofi, and TEVA. SB and JR L are employees of ALK-Abelló. NF reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Ipsen, Sanofi Aventis, Grifols, Novartis, Aimmune, Vertex, MSD, and Allergan. BF reports personal fees from ALK, and speaker honorarium from Novartis and Merck Sharp & Dohme.