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Adherence to subcutaneous immunotherapy with aeroallergens in real‐life practice during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Yeğit Osman Ozan,
Demir Semra,
Ünal Derya,
Olgaç Müge,
Terzioğlu Kadriye,
Eyice Karabacak Deniz,
Tüzer Can,
Ayhan Vehbi,
Çolakoğlu Bahattin,
Büyüköztürk Suna,
Gelincik Aslı
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/all.14876
Subject(s) - covid-19 , pandemic , medicine , immunotherapy , allergen immunotherapy , immunology , virology , intensive care medicine , immune system , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak
Background The success of subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) mostly depends on regular injections. Our aim was to investigate adherence to SCIT with aeroallergens during the COVID‐19 pandemic and demonstrate clinical consequences of treatment disruptions in real life. Methods Visual analogue scale for quality of life (VAS‐QoL), VAS for symptom scores (VAS‐symptom), medication scores (MSs), and total symptom scores (TSS‐6) were recorded during the pandemic in 327 adult allergic rhinitis and/or asthmatic patients receiving maintenance SCIT, and these scores were compared with the pre‐pandemic data. Patients were grouped according to SCIT administration intervals; no delay (Group 1), <2 months (Group 2), and ≥2‐month intervals (Group 3). Results A total of 104 (31.8%) patients (Group 3) were considered as nonadherent which was mostly related to receiving SCIT with HDMs and using public transportation for reaching the hospital. Median MS, VAS‐symptom, and TSS‐6 scores of Group 3 patients during the pandemic were higher than the pre‐pandemic scores ( p = 0.005, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively), whereas median VAS‐QoL scores of Group 3 during the pandemic were lower than the pre‐pandemic scores ( p < 0.001). Median TSS‐6 and VAS‐symptom scores were the highest in Group 3 compared with other groups ( p < 0.001 for each comparison). Median VAS‐QoL scores were the lowest in Group 3 compared with Group 1 and Group 2 ( p < 0.001, p = 0.043, respectively). Conclusion When precautions in allergy clinics are carefully applied, adherence to SCIT can be high during a pandemic. Patients must be encouraged to regularly adhere to SCIT injections since delays in SCIT administration can deteriorate clinical symptoms.