Behavioural patterns in allergic rhinitis medication in Europe: A study using MASK‐air® real‐world data
Authors: Sousa‐Pinto Bernardo , Sá‐Sousa Ana , Vieira Rafael José , Amaral Rita , Klimek Ludger , Czarlewski Wienczyslawa , Antó Josep M. , Pfaar Oliver , Bedbrook Anna , Kvedariene Violeta , Ventura Maria Teresa , Ansotegui Ignacio J. , Bergmann Karl‐Christian , Brussino Luisa , Canonica G. Walter , Cardona Victoria , Carreiro‐Martins Pedro , Casale Tomas , Cecchi Lorenzo , Chivato Tomás , Chu Derek K. , Cingi Cemal , Costa Elísio M. , Cruz Alvaro A. , De Feo Giulia , Devillier Philippe , Fokkens Wytske J. , Gaga Mina , Gemicioğlu Bilun , Haahtela Tari , Ivancevich Juan Carlos , Ispayeva Zhanat , Jutel Marek , Kuna Piotr , Kaidashev Igor , Kraxner Helga , Larenas‐Linnemann Désirée E. , Laune Daniel , Lipworth Brian , Louis Renaud , Makris Michael , Monti Riccardo , Morais‐Almeida Mario , Mösges Ralph , Mullol Joaquim , Odemyr Mikaëla , Okamoto Yoshitaka , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Patella Vincenzo , Pham‐Thi Nhân , Regateiro Frederico S. , Reitsma Sietze , Rouadi Philip W. , Samolinski Boleslaw , Sova Milan , Todo‐Bom Ana , Taborda‐Barata Luis , Tomazic Peter Valentin , Toppila‐Salmi Sanna , Sastre Joaquin , Tsiligianni Ioanna , Valiulis Arunas , Vandenplas Olivier , Wallace Dana , Waserman Susan , Yorgancioglu Arzu , Zidarn Mihaela , Zuberbier Torsten , Fonseca João A. , Bousquet Jean 
Published: March 2022

Background

Co‐medication is common among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), but its dimension and patterns are unknown. This is particularly relevant since AR is understood differently across European countries, as reflected by rhinitis‐related search patterns in Google Trends. This study aims to assess AR co‐medication and its regional patterns in Europe, using real‐world data.

Methods

We analysed 2015–2020 MASK‐air® European data. We compared days under no medication, monotherapy and co‐medication using the visual analogue scale (VAS) levels for overall allergic symptoms (‘VAS Global Symptoms’) and impact of AR on work. We assessed the monthly use of different medication schemes, performing separate analyses by region (defined geographically or by Google Trends patterns). We estimated the average number of different drugs reported per patient within 1 year.

Results

We analysed 222,024 days (13,122 users), including 63,887 days (28.8%) under monotherapy and 38,315 (17.3%) under co‐medication. The median ‘VAS Global Symptoms’ was 7 for no medication days, 14 for monotherapy and 21 for co‐medication (p < .001). Medication use peaked during the spring, with similar patterns across different European regions (defined geographically or by Google Trends). Oral H1‐antihistamines were the most common medication in single and co‐medication. Each patient reported using an annual average of 2.7 drugs, with 80% reporting two or more.

Conclusions

Allergic rhinitis medication patterns are similar across European regions. One third of treatment days involved co‐medication. These findings suggest that patients treat themselves according to their symptoms (irrespective of how they understand AR) and that co‐medication use is driven by symptom severity.