Question / Intervention Goal / Objectives

AllergyChoices offers disease-modifying treatment of allergies.  The course of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) can eliminate the need for future allergy treatment.  Patients who complete the treatment have improved quality of life.

Method/ Calculation

This study was a prospective analysis that compiled and compared collected Juniper Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life survey data from patients undergoing sublingual immunotherapy. Collected data for each patient were compared to that particular patient’s baseline data and the same data from two subsequent patient visits.

Findings / Metric/ Outcome/ Savings

Two hundred and ninety-nine patients who had an average of 11 months of treatment completed the Juniper questionnaire at baseline, and at two follow-up visits.  They showed statistically significant improvement in the six of the seven domains of quality of life scores from baseline to the end of treatment.  Improvements were seen in the activities, non-nose/eye symptoms, practical problems, nasal symptoms, eye symptoms, and emotional categories; improvement was not statistically significant for sleep problems.

Limitations

Adjustments were not made to weigh the self-selection bias among respondents.