Allergen immunotherapy for those allergic rhinitis and/or asthma has been shown to remain effective in a nine-year follow-up real-world study.
The effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients both with and without asthma has been shown in a nine-year retrospective analysis by a research team from the Paediatric Pulmonology and Allergy, Children’s Doctor Service, Heidelberg, Germany.
An Allergy is an abnormal immune system reaction to otherwise harmless allergens and in the UK, AR is estimated to affect 10-15% of children and up to 26% of adults. In addition, many of those with AR also suffer with asthma as a co-morbidity and it has been estimated that 10% to 40% of AR patients have asthma. Furthermore, the presence of AR is associated with an incremental adverse impact on the disease-specific quality of life in patients with asthma and the level of asthma control.
Allergen immunotherapy (or desensitisation treatment) involves exposure to increasing doses of an allergen such as grass pollen, dust mite, or cat dander. AIT can be given via the subcutaneous or sublingual route, both of which have been shown to be effective treatment for patients with AR. Nevertheless, there is a recognised lack of information on the effectiveness of AIT in real-world studies and over the longer term.
In addressing the gap in the research evidence, the German team undertook the Real World effectiveness in allergy immunotherapy (REACT) study, primarily to assess the efficacy of AIT over a period of years.
Using a retrospective, observational, propensity score matched cohort study, the team analysed health insurance claims from 2007 to 2017 and included AR patients with and without asthma and who had received an AIT prescription.
These individuals were then propensity-score matched with AR individuals (also with or without asthma) but who had not been prescribed AIT.
The primary outcome of the study was set as AR prescriptions in each follow-up year and secondary outcomes included asthma prescriptions, severe asthma exacerbations and any changes in the individual’s asthma treatment steps.
Findings
Between 2007 and 2017, 115,098 individuals had at least one AIT prescription, of whom, 46,024 with a mean age of 29.5 years (53% male) were propensity score matched. In addition, 14,614 AR patients with AR and co-existing asthma (mean age, 28.3 years, 54% male) were also matched with controls. However, over the nine years, the study population declined, leaving 3,692 individuals in the main cohort and 1,142 with co-existent asthma.
When compared to control patients, AIT use was consistently associated with greater reductions in both AR and asthma prescriptions. In addition, there was a significantly greater likelihood that patients using AIT would have an asthma treatment step-down (p < 0.0001) and a reduction in severe asthma exacerbations (p < 0.05).
The authors concluded that their study had confirmed the real-world effectiveness of AIT as evidenced by sustained reductions in AR and asthma prescriptions, prevention of asthma exacerbations, and improved and sustained long-term asthma control.
Earlier this year it was found that adding dupilumab to immunotherapy in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis did not further reduce post-allergen nasal symptoms.
Citation
Fritzching B et al. Long-term real-world effectiveness of allergy immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma: Results from the REACT study, a retrospective cohort study. Lancet Regional Health Europe 2021.
