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Desloratadine relieves nasal congestion and improves quality‐of‐life in persistent allergic rhinitis
Author(s) -
Holmberg K.,
Tonnel A.B.,
Dreyfus I.,
Olsson P.,
Cougnard J.,
Mesbah K.,
Devillier P.
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1398-9995.2009.02096.x
Subject(s) - desloratadine , nasal congestion , medicine , rhinorrhea , placebo , quality of life (healthcare) , anesthesia , nasal spray , asthma , nose , nasal administration , surgery , pharmacology , alternative medicine , nursing , pathology
Background: Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), particularly nasal congestion, can impair quality‐of‐life (QoL). However, only a modest correlation exists between these symptoms and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores, suggesting that both be evaluated for a complete assessment of health. Methods: Subjects with a ≥2‐year history of moderate‐to‐severe AR to dust mite or cat dander were randomized to desloratadine 5 mg/day ( n = 293) or placebo/day ( n = 291) for 28 days. Primary endpoint was change from baseline in a.m./p.m. nasal congestion score. Secondary outcomes included change from baseline in total nasal symptom score, individual symptom scores and RQLQ scores (completed on days 1, 7, and 28). Results: The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma criteria for persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) were fulfilled by 99% of subjects in the placebo arm. Between‐treatment difference in a.m./p.m. nasal congestion score, observed from day 8 onward, significantly favored desloratadine ( P = 0.0003). Desloratadine significantly improved a.m./p.m. nasal congestion and RQLQ scores after 1 week and at treatment end ( P < 0.05). Improvements in 5 of 7 RQLQ domain scores exceeded the minimal important difference. On days 7 and 28, desloratadine was also significantly superior to placebo in mean change from baseline in a.m./p.m. total nasal symptom score and rhinorrhea score (both P ≤ 0.01). Symptomatic benefit was primarily driven by improvement in nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. Conclusions: Desloratadine 5 mg/day significantly improved symptoms associated with PER, including nasal congestion, and provided significant improvement in QoL after 1 week of treatment.