Chronic Urticaria in the Real-Life Clinical Practice Setting in Portugal: Baseline Results from the Non-Interventional Multicentre AWARE Study

Authors

  • Ana Célia Costa Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Hospital de Santa Maria. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisboa.
  • Isabel Rosmaninho Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho. Vila Nova de Gaia.
  • Arminda Guilherme Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho. Vila Nova de Gaia.
  • José Ferreira Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho. Vila Nova de Gaia.
  • Joana Antunes Serviço de Dermatologia. Hospital de Santa Maria. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisboa.
  • Ana Pina Serviço de Dermatologia. Hospital de Santa Maria. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisboa.
  • Sara Prates Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • João Gaspar Marques Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Hospital Dona Estefânia. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Filomena Azevedo Serviço de Dermatologia. Centro Hospitalar de São João. Porto.
  • Ana Paula Cunha Serviço de Dermatologia. Centro Hospitalar de São João. Porto.
  • Celeste Brito Serviço de Dermatologia. Hospital de Braga. Braga.
  • António Massa Serviço de Dermatologia. Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia. Vila Nova de Gaia.
  • João Teles de Sousa Serviço de Dermatologia. Hospital Egas Moniz. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental. Lisboa.
  • Glória Cunha Velho Serviço de Dermatologia. Centro Hospitalar do Porto. Porto.
  • Inês Raposo Serviço de Dermatologia. Centro Hospitalar do Porto. Porto.
  • Gabriela Marques Pinto Serviço de Dermatologia. Hospital dos Capuchos. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Virgínia Sousa Serviço de Dermatologia. Hospital dos Capuchos. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central. Lisboa.
  • Ana Rodrigues Martins Novartis Farma – Produtos Farmacêuticos, S.A. Porto Salvo.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.9496

Keywords:

Chronic Disease, Cost of Illness, Health Resources, Portugal, Quality of Life, Urticaria

Abstract

Introduction: There is a paucity of information regarding chronic urticaria patients’ care in a real-world setting. The objective of this study was to report and evaluate the baseline characteristics of Portuguese chronic urticaria patients refractory to H1-antihistamines included in the AWARE study.

Material and Methods: This is a non-interventional cohort study. Adult patients with a diagnosis of chronic urticaria with symptoms for at least two months, refractory to H1-antihistamines, consulting one of the 10 participating urticaria centers throughout Portugal have been included in the study. Baseline sociodemographic data, medical history, clinical parameters, medication, weekly urticaria activity score, and dermatology quality of life index have been collected.

Results: Seventy six patients were included, of which 76.3% were women. The majority of patients had a diagnosis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (88.2%) and 39.5% had angioedema. Around 91.0% of patients were medicated with non-sedative H1-antihistamines and 35.4% with a third line therapy. Median dermatology quality of life index was 5.0 and median weekly urticaria activity score was 13.0.

Discussion: The baseline results suggest that patients with chronic urticaria refractory to H1-antihistamines are being under-treated in the real-world setting.

Conclusion: The AWARE study demonstrates the real impact of chronic urticaria on Portuguese patients refractory to H1-antihistamines treatment, and 30% report a very large or extremely large deleterious effect on their quality of life. The follow-up of these patients will allow evaluating strategies aimed at optimizing disease control.

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Author Biography

Ana Célia Costa, Serviço de Imunoalergologia. Hospital de Santa Maria. Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte. Lisboa.

#8597 #8294 - 2016;29(11):763-781

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Published

2019-02-28

How to Cite

1.
Costa AC, Rosmaninho I, Guilherme A, Ferreira J, Antunes J, Pina A, Prates S, Marques JG, Azevedo F, Cunha AP, Brito C, Massa A, de Sousa JT, Velho GC, Raposo I, Pinto GM, Sousa V, Martins AR. Chronic Urticaria in the Real-Life Clinical Practice Setting in Portugal: Baseline Results from the Non-Interventional Multicentre AWARE Study. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2019 Feb. 28 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];32(2):133-40. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/9496

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Original