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Management of intermittent allergic rhinitis (IAR) is suboptimal in the UK. An Australian community pharmacy-based intervention has been shown to help patients better self-manage their IAR. We conducted a pilot cluster RCT in 12 Scottish community pharmacies to assess transferability of the Australian intervention. Trained staff in intervention pharmacies delivered the intervention to eligible customers (n = 60). Non-intervention pharmacy participants (n = 65) received usual care. Outcome measures included effect size of change in the mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (miniRQLQ) between baseline, 1-week and 6-week follow-up. Trial procedures were well received by pharmacy staff, and customer satisfaction with the intervention was high. The standardised effect size for miniRQLQ total score was -0.46 (95% CI, -1.05, 0.13) for all participants and -0.14 (95% CI,-0.86, 0.57) in the complete case analysis, suggesting a small overall treatment effect in the intervention group. A full-scale RCT is warranted to fully evaluate the effectiveness of this service.

Tree pollen induced allergies are one of the major medical and public health burdens in the industrialized world. Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy (AIT) through subcutaneous injection or sublingual delivery is the only approved therapy with curative potential to pollen induced allergies. AIT often is associated with severe side effects and requires long-term treatment. Safer, more effective and convenient allergen specific immunotherapies remain an unmet need. In this review article, we discuss the current progress in applying protein and peptide-based approaches and DNA vaccines to the clinical challenges posed by tree pollen allergies through the lens of preclinical animal models and clinical trials, with an emphasis on the birch and Japanese red cedar pollen induced allergies.

Objective: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic disease with a substantial clinical and economic burden. This study estimated the potential budget impact (BI) associated with market entry of Sweet Vernal, Orchard, Perennial Rye, Timothy, and Kentucky Blue Grass Mixed Pollens Allergen Extract Tablet for Sublingual Use ('5-grass SLIT tablet') for patients aged 10-65 with grass pollen-induced AR., Methods: A budget impact model was constructed to estimate the potential BI from a US payer perspective. The model calculated pharmacy, medical, and total (pharmacy + medical) costs per-member-per-month (PMPM) with and without market entry of the 5-grass SLIT tablet, considering a 3-year time horizon. The target population was determined using an epidemiological approach and existing literature. The treatment market shares without 5-grass SLIT tablet entry were derived from an analysis of de-identified insurance claims data. Pharmacy costs and medical utilization rates and costs were obtained from the claims data analysis and existing literature. One-way sensitivities were conducted for key model inputs., Results: Using an illustrative example of a hypothetical health plan with one million members, the estimated target population of AR patients aged 10-65 was 26,320. On a PMPM basis, pharmacy costs increased by $0.36, $0.44, and $0.51, while total costs (after medical cost offsets) increased by $0.15, $0.18, and $0.22 in the first, second, and third years following entry of the 5-grass SLIT tablet, respectively. Results were most sensitive to changes in the compliance rate, treatment duration, and price. The BI will vary from the base case example when alternative, payer-specific inputs are used., Conclusions: Using base case inputs, use of the 5-grass SLIT tablet to treat grass pollen-induced AR increased the pharmacy budget for a hypothetical third-party payer. Higher pharmacy costs were partially offset by lower medical budget due to reduced resource use compared with existing treatments.

Unlabelled: High morbidity rate of atopic diseases among children, including high importance of grass pollen as a sensitizing agent, determine the relevance ofstudies on diagnostic examination systems for appointment of adequate therapy. The research of the most relevant allergens for patients to excludeof duplicating and uninformative tests became urgent after development of a new type of diagnostic tests that does not require expensive equipment. The objective of this research was to evaluate the results of in vitro- and in vivo-diagnostic examinations of children with various forms of atopic disease caused by pollen of meadow grasses, and to choose the most significant prognostic parameters for the diagnosis., Methods: 277 children aged 4-16 years with various forms of atopic disease were included in the study. There were performed skin prick tests and determination of IgE-antibodies levels to allergen extracts of cocksfoot (g3), meadow fescue (g4), timothy grass (g6)., Results: In the studied group of patients 32-50% of children have antibodies to grass allergens. There was a close correlation of antibody response on the investigated allergens, quantitative coincidence of IgE-antibodies to g3 andg4 allergens levels. IgE (g6) concentration was close to the IgE(g3) and IgE(g4) levels (85.0 ± 21.6%). Analysis of the skin tests results showed that 44% of patients have a positive response to grass allergens, and in vivo-tests results coincide with serologicaltests results, mostly in a qualitative sense. The most significant relationship was noted between in vivo and in vitro-tests in the results of testing the response to meadow fescue pollen., Conclusion: Based on these data IgE concentration index to meadow fescue allergens can be used as a prognostic marker to determine the sensitization of patients with different nosology forms of allergy and can help to improve allergic diagnostics.

Allergic rhinitis is a very common disease that causes high economic costs. Furthermore inadequate treatment can lead to bronchial asthma. Against this background, drugs for the treatment of allergic rhinitis should be evaluated from a comprehensive medical-economic perspective. The new combination of an antihistamine and a corticosteroid, introduced in the market in 2013, emerges as useful pharmaceutical alternative, both with regard to the medical outcome parameters as well as cost-effectiveness.

Background: Grass allergen immunotherapy (AIT) reduces symptom severity in seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) but its impact on general health-related utility has not been characterised for the purposes of economic evaluation. The aim of this study was to model the preferred measure of utility, EQ-5D index, from symptom severity and estimate incremental quality adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with SQ-standardised grass immunotherapy tablet (GRAZAX®, 75,000 SQ-T/2,800 BAU, ALK, Denmark)., Methods: Data were analysed from five consecutive pollen seasons in a randomised placebo controlled trial of GRAZAX®. Binomial and Gaussian mixed effects modelling related weekly EQ-5D index score to daily symptom and medication scores (DSS & DMS respectively). In turn, daily EQ-5D index was estimated from ARC symptoms and medication use., Results: DSS and DMS were the principal predictors of 'perfect' health (EQ-5D = 1.000; binomial) and 'imperfect' health (EQ-5D < 1.000; Gaussian). Each unit increase in DSS and DMS reduced the odds of 'perfect' health (EQ-5D = 1.000) by 27% and 16% respectively, and reduced 'imperfect' health by 0.17 and 0.13, respectively. Gender remained the only other significant main fixed effect (Male odds ratio [OR] = 1.82). Incremental estimated EQ-5D index utility for GRAZAX® was observed from day -30 to day +70 of the pooled pollen season; mean daily utility for GRAZAX® = 0.938 units (95%CI 0.932-0.943) vs. 0.914 (0.907-0.921) for placebo, an incremental difference of 0.0238 (p < 0.001). This translates into an incremental 0.0324 Quality Adjusted Life Years over the five year study period., Conclusions: ARC symptoms and medication use are the main predictors of EQ-5D index. The incremental QALYs observed for GRAZAX® may not fully describe the health benefits of this treatment, suggesting that economic modelling may be conservative.

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the age at which initiation of specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) becomes more cost-effective than continued lifetime intranasal steroid (NS) therapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, with the use of a decision analysis model., Methods: A Markov decision analysis model was created for this study. Economic analyses were performed to identify "break-even" points in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with the use of SCIT and NS. Efficacy rates for therapy and cost data were collected from the published literature. Models in which there was only incomplete improvement while receiving SCIT were also evaluated for economic break-even points. The primary perspective of the study was societal., Results: Multiple break-even point curves were obtained corresponding to various clinical scenarios. For patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis requiring NS (i.e., fluticasone) 6 months per year, the age at which initiation of SCIT provides long-term direct cost advantage is less than 41 years. For patients with perennial rhinitis symptoms requiring year-round NS, the cut-off age for SCIT cost-effectiveness increases to 60 years. Hypothetical subjects who require continued NS treatment (50% reduction of previous dosage) while receiving SCIT also display break-even points, whereby it is economically advantageous to consider allergy referral and SCIT, dependent on the cost of the NS prescribed., Conclusion: The age at which SCIT provides economic advantages over NS in the treatment of allergic rhinitis depends on multiple clinical factors. Decision analysis models can assist the physician in accounting for these factors and customize patient counseling with regard to treatment options.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease with a significant global burden, associated with many comorbidities and quality-of-life issues. Overwhelming evidence shows that intranasal corticosteroids are the most effective treatment for AR to control the disease, decrease comorbidities, and decrease costs. Poor adherence is a major barrier to achieving control of AR. This article addresses patient preferences and satisfaction regarding intranasal corticosteroids and factors leading to better adherence. We review and summarize the published literature. Factors affecting patient preference and, ultimately, adherence include a variety of sensory components such as odor, taste, comfort of delivery, delivery devices (aerosol versus aqueous) and patient cost. The intensity of adverse sensory attributes is negatively correlated with patient preference and the likelihood of adherence. Selection of an intranasal steroid (INS) with patient preference and satisfaction in mind can influence patient outcomes and cost. Providers need to assess each patient to determine which inhaled INS will lead to the best adherence, thereby improving outcomes in our patients and ultimately reducing the overall global burden of this disease.

Background: Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for managing allergic rhinitis in primary care, management of the condition in the United Kingdom (UK) remains sub-optimal. Its high prevalence and negative effects on quality of life, school performance, productivity and co-morbid respiratory conditions (in particular, asthma), and high health and societal costs, make this a priority for developing novel models of care. Recent Australian research demonstrated the potential of a community pharmacy-based 'goal-focused' intervention to help people with intermittent allergic rhinitis to self-manage their condition better, reduce symptom severity and improve quality of life. In this pilot study we will assess the transferability of the goal-focused intervention to a UK context, the suitability of the intervention materials, procedures and outcome measures and collect data to inform a future definitive UK randomized controlled trial (RCT)., Methods/design: A pilot cluster RCT with associated preliminary economic analysis and embedded qualitative evaluation. The pilot trial will take place in two Scottish Health Board areas: Grampian and Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Twelve community pharmacies will be randomly assigned to intervention or usual care group. Each will recruit 12 customers seeking advice or treatment for intermittent allergic rhinitis. Pharmacy staff in intervention pharmacies will support recruited customers in developing strategies for setting and achieving goals that aim to avoid/minimize triggers for, and eliminate/minimize symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Customers recruited in non-intervention pharmacies will receive usual care. The co-primary outcome measures, selected to inform a sample size calculation for a future RCT, are: community pharmacy and customer recruitment and completion rates; and effect size of change in the validated mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire between baseline, one-week and six-weeks post-intervention. Secondary outcome measures relate to changes in symptom severity, productivity, medication adherence and self-efficacy. Quantitative data about accrual, retention and economic measures, and qualitative data about participants' experiences during the trial will be collected to inform the future RCT., Discussion: This work will lay the foundations for a definitive RCT of a community pharmacy-based 'goal-focused' self-management intervention for people with intermittent allergic rhinitis. Results of the pilot trial are expected to be available in April 2013., Trial Registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN43606442.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is aimed at modifying the immune response to a causative allergen, thereby reducing clinical symptoms and symptomatic medication intake and improving quality of life. Long-term AIT research has led to the development of 5-grass pollen tablets, currently indicated for the treatment of grass pollen-induced allergic rhinitis (AR)., Methods: A post-hoc analysis was conducted using the Average Adjusted Symptom Score (AAdSS) to compare the effect of treatment of AR with 5-grass pollen tablets versus placebo treatment. Using the results of the VO34.04 and VO53.06 trials and economic data, cost-effectiveness analysis of 5-grass pollen tablet treatment was performed from the Italian third-party payer perspective with cost data derived from a study of 2008 updated to 2011. Also a societal perspective was considered by using the costs related to the losses of productivity by following the human capital approach. Using the results of the analysis, the estimated receiver-operating characteristic curve was plotted to evaluate medication effectiveness in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and a decision tree constructed to model the possible outcomes and costs for adults and paediatric patients with a low, medium, and high AAdSS. Finally, probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the robustness of the results as well as their consistency at an assumed cost-effectiveness threshold of € 30,000/QALY., Results: The results indicate that compared to the placebo, the 5-grass pollen tablet treatment provides a benefit of 0.127 QALYs in medium AAdSS patients and of 0.143 QALYs in high AAdSS patients. The 5-grass pollen tablet treatment was found to cost € 1,024/QALY for patients with a medium AAdSS and € 1,035/QALY for patients with a high AAdSS. Of all the simulations performed in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 99 % indicated that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the 5-grass pollen tablet treatment was below the threshold of € 30,000/QALY in patients with medium and high AAdSS, whereas it was found to be dominated in 67 % of simulations related to patients with low AAdSS., Conclusion: The 5-grass pollen tablet is a cost-effective treatment for adult AR patients with a medium or high AAdSS. This finding should be carefully considered when deciding the management strategy for these patients.

Allergic rhinitis is considered one of the most common afflictions of humans, affecting up to 30% of the world's population, and is increasing in incidence. Primary symptoms, comorbid conditions and complications of this disorder exact a significant toll, resulting in an enormous physical, social and economic impact on society. Single-season allergic rhinitis accounts for approximately 20% of cases of allergic rhinitis with another 40% having mixed seasonal-perennial presentations. Management of this disorder encompasses several treatment options, with intranasal corticosteroids recommended as first-line treatment in moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis in current practice parameters. Ciclesonide is the most recently approved product in this category for the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis and is the subject of this article.

Objective: Determine incremental increases in healthcare expenditures and utilization associated with allergic rhinitis (AR)., Methods: Patients reporting a diagnosis of AR were extracted from the 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey medical conditions file and linked to the consolidated expenditures file. AR patients were then compared to non-AR patients determining differences in healthcare utilization: office visits, emergency facility visits, and prescriptions filled, as well as differences in healthcare expenditures: total healthcare costs, office-based costs, prescription medication costs, and self-expenditures using demographically and comorbidity adjusted multivariate models., Results: An estimated 17.8 ± 0.72 million adult patients reported AR in 2007 (7.9 ± 0.3% of the U.S. population). The additional incremental healthcare utilizations associated with AR relative to non-AR patients for office visits, emergency facility visits, and number of prescriptions filled were 3.25 ± 0.40, 0.01 ± 0.02, and 8.95 ± 0.80, respectively (P < .001, .787, and <.001, respectively). Similarly, additional healthcare expenditures associated with AR for total healthcare expenses, office-based visit expenditures, prescription expenditures, and self-expenditures were $1,492 ± 346, $461 ± 122, $876 ± 126, and $168 ± 25, respectively (all P < 0.001)., Conclusions: AR is associated with substantial incremental increases in healthcare utilization and expenditures due to increases in office-based visits and prescription expenditures. As a commonly prevalent and costly disease, AR would be a prime target for guideline development and standardization of care., (Copyright © 2011 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a global health problem because of its increasing impact on economics, society, and the individual's quality of life. This study compares the outcomes and cost of three intranasal therapeutic approaches to the treatment of AR., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using propensity scores to achieve balanced cohorts. The study population included patients ≥16 years of age with at least one intranasal prescription claim, without concurrent nasal polyps or sinusitis. Health care use and costs, airway infections, pharmacy costs, and indicators of unsatisfactory treatment (i.e., treatment augmentation or switching) were evaluated in the 1-year follow-up period using a claims database., Results: Data from 141,190 patients in intranasal antihistamines (INA) therapy, intranasal steroids (INS) therapy, and intranasal combination therapy (ICT) cohorts were analyzed. The INA cohort showed the lowest rate of change in treatment (switching or augmentation). Switching rates were lowest in the INS therapy cohort, whereas augmentation was lowest in the INA cohort. AR- and asthma-related medication costs were significantly lower in the INA cohort. No differences were observed in airway infections and overall health care costs. Concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and asthma were the strongest predictors of health care cost and respiratory infection in the follow-up period., Conclusion: A change in treatment was noted in ∼⅓ of the entire study population. None of the treatments had a remarkable effect on health care costs or the occurrence of airway infections. The INA treatment cohort had lower AR- and asthma-related medication costs.

Purpose of Review: Noncompliance to the prescribed therapeutic regimen is a worldwide problem, especially for diseases in which symptoms can vary with different patient factors and with seasons. The consequences are poor health outcomes, progression of disease and increased healthcare costs. Reviews conducted across countries and addressing different diseases are consistent in estimating noncompliance between 30 and 50%. To implement strategies and interventions that enhance compliance, a comprehensive analysis of its determinants is essential., Recent Findings: Lack of efficacy was reported as the number one reason for discontinuing the intake of medications prescribed for nasal allergies. Studies on glucocorticosteroids, allergen-specific immunotherapy and antihistamines highlighted the importance of patient education, demographic factors, duration of therapy, side-effects and treatment costs, as well as minor details, such as taste and odour, in improving compliance., Summary: The variation in the methodologies used and the durations of treatments assessed in current compliance research in the field of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis decreases the comparability of results. Therefore, a clear definition of compliance measured in clinical trials with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis sufferers is needed. Moreover, a gold standard for measuring and reporting compliance should be determined to enable better interstudy comparability of the rates and determinants of compliance.

We conducted a study of 155 patients with allergic rhinitis who prematurely discontinued subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy to determine the reasons for their discontinuation. The most commonly cited factor, which was cited by 62 patients (40.0%), was the issue of cost-specifically, inadequate or nonexistent insurance coverage. Studies have shown that subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy is more cost-effective than pharmacologic treatment for patients with allergic rhinitis. Therefore, improved insurance coverage for this treatment of proven efficacy would not only improve quality of life, it would also be economically beneficial to the healthcare system in general.

Objective: To describe the economic burden of allergic rhinitis treatment and current guidelines for treatment., Data Sources: Review articles and original research were retrieved from MEDLINE, OVID, PubMed (1950-November 2009), personal files of articles, and bibliographies of located articles that addressed the topic of interest., Study Selection: Articles were selected for their relevance to the burden of allergic rhinitis and current guidelines for treatment. Publications included reviews, treatment guidelines, and clinical studies., Results: Despite the common symptoms of allergic rhinitis, its impact on patient quality of life, and the huge cost to society and individuals of treatment, including pharmacotherapy, many patients do not adhere to their medication regimens because the medications do not adequately address their symptoms or are otherwise problematic for them to use., Conclusions: The economic impact of allergic rhinitis is substantial; the total direct medical cost of allergic rhinitis is approximately $3.4 billion, with almost half of this cost attributable to prescription medications. Multiple treatment options are available, and these were reviewed to provide an update on effectiveness and adverse effects that may affect patient adherence., (Copyright © 2011 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common conditions affecting both children and adults. Along with the burden of the disease and decrease in quality of life associated with allergic rhinitis, there are high costs related to the disorder. Costs due to allergic rhinitis can be divided into two categories: direct costs that are related to monies spent on the course of managing the disease and indirect costs that are due to missing work and decreased productivity due to the illness. There are also the costs associated with the comorbidities of allergic rhinitis, such as sinusitis and asthma, which are classified as "hidden" direct costs. Management of allergic rhinitis involves allergen avoidance, proper pharmacologic therapies, and allergen immunotherapy. These treatments add to the direct cost of the condition and need to be evaluated to determine their cost-effectiveness in the control of the patient's nasal allergies. This article reviews the latest data on cost issues in allergic rhinitis and information of cost-effectiveness of treatments for this condition.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is one of most prevalent chronic diseases and results in relatively high medical expenses and economic burden; however, in Korea, studies on economic costs are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the health care use and socioeconomic costs of allergic rhinitis in Korea., Methods: This study extracted the insurance claims records from the Korea National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) claims database for determining the health care services provided to patients with allergic rhinitis in 2007. The total allergic rhinitis-related cost was the sum of the direct medical care costs, the direct nonmedical care costs, and the indirect cost. The direct medical care consists of the costs paid by insurers and patients, the noncovered service costs, the prescribed drug costs, and the over-the-counter drug costs., Results: A total of 4,068,517 people were identified as having allergic rhinitis, yielding a prevalence of 8.4%. The prevalence for children <20 years of age was 13.5% and higher than that of adults. Especially the prevalence of preschool children was higher. The total direct cost was $223.68 million and the lost productivity was estimated to be $49.25 million. Therefore, we approximated the economic burden of allergic rhinitis to be $272.92 million., Conclusion: Allergic rhinitis was a frequently occurring disease in the NHIC Claims database and the economic burden has been estimated to be almost $272.92 million. Although this study has some limitations, it is the first study of economic burden in allergic rhinitis representing the entire Korean population.

Background: Children with allergic rhinitis (AR) often experience significant impairment in quality of life and health, which increases health care utilization., Objective: To determine whether allergen immunotherapy reduces health care utilization and costs in children newly diagnosed as having AR using a retrospective matched cohort design., Methods: Among children (age <18 years) with a Florida Medicaid paid claim between 1997 and 2007, immunotherapy-treated patients were selected who had newly diagnosed AR, who had not received immunotherapy before their first (index) AR diagnosis, who had received at least 2 immunotherapy administrations after their index AR diagnosis, and who had at least 18 months of data after their first immunotherapy administration. A control group of patients with newly diagnosed AR who had not received immunotherapy either before or subsequent to their index AR diagnosis also were identified, and up to 5 were matched with each immunotherapy-treated patient by age at first AR diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, and diagnosis of asthma, conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis., Results: Immunotherapy-treated patients had significantly lower 18-month median per-patient total health care costs ($3,247 vs $4,872), outpatient costs exclusive of immunotherapy-related care ($1,107 vs $2,626), and pharmacy costs ($1,108 vs $1,316) compared with matched controls (P < .001 for all). The significant difference in total health care costs was evident 3 months after initiating immunotherapy and increased through study end., Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential for early and significant cost savings in children with AR treated with immunotherapy. Greater use of this treatment in children could significantly reduce AR-related morbidity and its economic burden.

Pollinosis affects up to 20% of the Swiss population and increased substantially during the last century. Diagnosis of pollinosis is based on anamnesis, skin tests and determination of specific IgE in the serum. Treatment includes allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy and allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). A proper patient and allergen extract selection, an ideally adapted application regimen and good patient-guidance are decisive for the success of the SIT. Under such conditions immunotherapy leads to a benefit in more than 80% of pollinosis-patients. Component-resolved diagnosis is an important step in more specific diagnosis. Several approaches studying changed application regimens and using molecular technologies to improve the efficacy of SIT are undergoing and will possibly substantially improve the efficacy, safety and acceptance of SIT.

This study evaluates the costs and utilization burden associated with oral, branded second-generation antihistamines (BSGAs) compared with montelukast (MTLK) as first-choice treatment in newly diagnosed allergic rhinitis (AR) patients without asthma. We compared annual medical costs of illness and utilization changes from 1 year before index AR diagnosis to 1 year after for continuously enrolled AR patients initiating therapy with BSGA or MTLK. Multivariate regressions for each outcome variable adjusted for confounders including age, sex, geographic region, Charlson Comorbidity Index, RxRisk Score, 18 comorbidity groups, and payer type. Treatment selection bias was evaluated by propensity score with all covariates plus instrumental variables including physician type and likelihood of prescribing MTLK versus BSGA. Insurance claims data for the years 2003-2007 included AR patients in all regions of the United States. The final sample included 13,703 AR patients taking BSGAs (84%) or MTLK (16%). After confounder adjustment, MTLK patients experienced higher total medical costs ($1,542 versus $989), drug costs ($714 versus $477), AR drug costs ($474 versus $298), and outpatient visit costs ($480 versus $277) than BSGA patients (all values of p < 0.025). MTLK patients experienced higher total visits (0.96), AR outpatient visits (0.71), and comorbidity visits (0.12) than BSGA patients (all values of p < 0.01). MTLK patients were more likely to add additional AR therapy medications (MTLK, 43.2%; BSGA, 31.6%; p < 0.01). New AR patients prescribed MTLK as first-line medication therapy have higher medical costs and resource utilization than those prescribed first-line oral BSGAs. These differences persisted after adjustment for patient fixed effects, available confounders, and treatment propensity scores.

Objective: To review the pharmacoeconomic literature evaluating use of antihistamines in treating allergic rhinitis (AR) in the US., Methods: Three independent reviewers conducted a comprehensive search of the current literature with PubMed. They identified articles describing original research comprising US cost analyses or pharmacoeconomic evaluations that reported both costs and consequences of using second-generation anthistamines (SGAs), first-generation antihistamines (FGAs), or both for the treatment of patients with AR. The search was limited to studies performed in humans and published in English between 1998 and 2008., Results: Five of 200 articles met the inclusion criteria and examined costs associated primarily with chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine. The first two studies retrospectively analyzed a claims database and concluded that fexofenadine was associated with slightly lower overall costs than loratadine and cetirizine. A third study compared total healthcare costs associated with FGAs and SGAs, concluding that despite their higher prescription cost, SGAs result in lower medical resource use and lower cost for treatment of AR versus FGAs, although no individual SGA could be distinguished as providing substantial healthcare cost savings or increased cost-effectiveness over the other SGAs. Two studies investigated the impact of transitioning a prescription SGA to over-the-counter status and concluded that such a transition would provide cost savings to healthcare plans, but did not address the cost or health effect of such a switch on specific populations whose plans might no longer cover prescription SGAs., Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests that newer SGAs offer clinical, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacokinetic advantages that may translate into superior cost-effectiveness in the treatment of AR. Further study is warranted to clarify the pharmacoeconomic impact of the newer SGAs and to establish their relative cost-effectiveness.

To assess quality of life and cost-effectiveness of additional acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis, patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups; both received usual care, but one group received an additional 10 acupuncture sessions. Quality of life (according to the SF-36 Health Survey), and direct and indirect costs, were assessed at baseline and after 3 months, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of acupuncture treatment was calculated. This German study (December 2000-June 2004) involved 981 patients (64% women, mean age 40.9 years (standard deviation, 11.2); 36% men, mean age 43.2 years (standard deviation, 13.0)). At 3 months, quality of life was higher in the acupuncture group than in the control group (mean Physical Component Score 51.99 (standard error (SE), 0.33) vs. 48.25 (SE, 0.33), P < 0.001; mean Mental Component Score 48.55 (SE, 0.42) vs. 45.35 (SE, 0.42), respectively, P < 0.001). Overall costs in the acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the control group (Euro (euro; 1 euro = US $1.27) 763, 95% confidence interval: 683, 844 vs. 332 euro, 95% confidence interval: 252, 412; mean difference 432 euro, 95% confidence interval: 318, 545). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 17,377 euro per quality-adjusted life year (women, 10,155 euro; men, 44,871 euro) and was robust in sensitivity analyses. Acupuncture, supplementary to routine care, was beneficial and, according to international benchmarks, cost-effective. However, because of the study design, it remains unclear whether the effects are acupuncture specific.

Purpose of Review: To analyse and discuss the growing body of evidence on the economic advantages offered by immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma, in the various perspectives (society, national healthcare system, patients, etc) and according to the various types of standardized economic evaluations., Recent Findings: This review shows that the economic studies of allergic rhinitis and asthma focus on three main research areas: studies aimed at determining the cost of illness and studies focused either on a simple cost comparison amongst available therapeutic alternatives, or directly comparing alternatives using full economic evaluations (cost-effectiveness, cost-utility measures, etc)., Summary: Studies exploring the full cost of allergic rhinitis and asthma are still lacking; on the contrary, studies on immunotherapy (in its many administration forms, subcutaneous, sublingual, tablet, etc) in comparison with standard pharmaceutical treatment, have shown that immunotherapy may be very beneficial to the healthcare systems, in that either it could bring more clinical outcome at a reduced cost, versus standard therapy alone, or it could bring extra benefit at a very acceptable extra cost. This is even more correct under the societal perspective, that is, when indirect costs of lost productivity are considered and included in the economic analysis.

Background: In the United Kingdom, approximately 10.8 million people suffer from asthma, placing an economic burden on the society of more than 2 billion pounds sterling per year. For allergic asthma, treatment options consist of allergen avoidance, symptomatic treatment and allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT). Only SIT addresses the underlying cause of the disease, reducing symptoms and offering the potential for long-term improvement. Grazax--the first tablet-based SIT--is indicated for the treatment of patients with grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis, including those with co-existing asthma., Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of Grazax in patients with rhinoconjunctivitis and co-existing asthma., Methods: A prospective pharmacoeconomic analysis was carried out as part of a multinational clinical trial assessing the efficacy of Grazax (n = 79) compared with placebo (n = 72). Both groups had access to symptomatic medication; thus the placebo group represented current standard care. Pooled data on health resource use, productivity loss because of absence from work and quality of life (Quality Adjusted Life Years, QALYs) were collected in the trial. Reduced productivity at work was estimated from the literature. A societal perspective was adopted with a 9-year time horizon. The NHS price of Grazax of 2.25 pounds sterling per tablet was used., Results: The QALY gain was significantly higher for patients treated with Grazax than the placebo group receiving symptomatic medication alone (0.197 discounted QALYs gained 9 years into the future - equal to an extra 72 days of perfect health over 9 years). The levels of resource use and productivity loss were higher for the placebo group. As a result, the cost per QALY gained with Grazax was 4319 pounds sterling , which is highly cost-effective. Price sensitivity analyses demonstrated that Grazax remained cost-effective up to a tablet price of 5.07 pounds sterling ., Conclusion: SIT with Grazax is a cost-effective strategy compared with standard management of patients with rhinoconjunctivitis and co-existing asthma.

Background: Specific immunotherapy is the only potentially curative treatment in patients with allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Health economic evaluations on this treatment, particularly in a German context, are sparse., Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in addition to symptomatic treatment (ST) compared with ST alone in a German health care setting., Methods: The analysis was performed as a health economic model calculation based on Markov models. In addition, we performed a concomitant expert board composed of allergy experts in pediatrics, dermatology, pneumology, and otolaryngology. The primary perspective of the study was societal. Additional sensitivity analyses were performed to prove our results for robustness., Results: The SCIT and ST combination was associated with annual cost savings of Euro140 per patient. After 10 years of disease duration, SCIT and ST reach the breakeven point. The overall incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was Euro-19,787 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), with a range that depended on patient age (adults, Euro-22,196; adolescents, Euro-14,747; children, Euro-12,750). From a third-party payer's perspective, SCIT was associated with slightly additional costs. Thus, the resulting ICER was Euro8,308 per QALY for all patients., Conclusions: Additional SCIT was associated with improved medical outcomes and cost savings compared with symptomatic treatment alone according to a societal perspective. Taking a European accepted ICER threshold of up to Euro50,000 per QALY into account, additional SCIT is considered clearly cost-effective compared with routine care in Germany. The degree of cost-effectiveness is strongly affected by costs related to SCIT and the target population receiving such treatment.

Background: Asthma and allergic rhinitis are symptomatically as well as pathophysiologically overlapping conditions and their prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Despite significant progress in pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis and availability of several therapies in recent years, a true and complete cure for asthma and allergic rhinitis so far seems out of reach., Objective: To review clinical efficacy & tolerability, pharmacoeconomics, quality of life, outcomes of several clinical trails based on combination therapy for asthma and allergic rhinitis., Data Sources: Computer-assisted MEDLINE searches for articles on phathophysiology, clinical trials on combination therapy for asthma and allergic rhinitis, treatment guidelines., Selection: Published articles and pertinent abstracts (1981--2006) on the topics identified above were selected., Results: The pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis is a complex cascade of events and mono therapy with drugs, which inhibits synthesis and release of a mediator or blocks the receptors of respective mediators, does not result in complete relief in the symptoms. From several clinical trials it can be concluded that combination therapy with two or more drugs may provide additive or synergistic benefits in blocking pathophysiological endpoints and also complement each other by blocking a broad spectrum of inflammatory processes than that provided by either drug alone., Conclusion: From the available scientific data from clinical trials it can be concluded that combination therapeutic approach may be a viable option for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Background: Sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) is a commonly used alternative route of administration to standard subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in Europe. Despite its wide use, the cost-effectiveness of SLIT vs SCIT has not been well established., Objective: To evaluate the cost and effectiveness of SLIT compared with SCIT in patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis during a 3-year specific allergen immunotherapy (SIT) from a third-party payer's, a patient's, and society's perspectives., Methods: We performed an open-label randomized clinical trial of patients receiving SLIT (n = 19), patients receiving SCIT (n = 23), and a control group (n = 22). The outcome measures were Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score, visual analog scale score, symptomatic medication reduction, and direct and indirect costs., Results: SLIT offered clinical benefits to patients comparable to those provided by SCIT. From the perspective of a third-party payer, the total average direct medical cost per patient of 3-year SIT was estimated at Euro 416 vs Euro 482 in the SLIT and SCIT groups, respectively. A patient who received SLIT paid less than a patient who received SCIT for all out-of-pocket costs (Euro176 for SLIT vs Euro 255 for SCIT) but more for sole allergen extracts (Euro 72 for SLIT vs Euro 55 for SCIT). When both direct and indirect costs were considered, the 3-year SIT expenditures per patient reached Euro 684 vs Euro 1,004 in the SLIT and SCIT groups, respectively., Conclusions: SLIT represents a less expensive alternative relative to subcutaneous administration from all perspectives. However, from a patient's perspective, SCIT offers a less expensive alternative for patients who do not experience loss of income and travel costs associated with treatment.

Background: Although research demonstrates that allergy immunotherapy (IT) improves allergic rhinitis (AR) outcomes, little is known about IT patterns of care and associated resource use and costs among US children with diagnoses of AR., Objective: We sought to examine characteristics associated with receiving IT, patterns of IT care, and health care use and costs incurred in the 6 months before versus after IT., Methods: We performed retrospective Florida Medicaid claims data (1997-2004) analysis of children (<18 years of age) given new diagnoses of AR., Results: Of 102,390 patients with new diagnoses of AR, 3048 (3.0%) received IT. Male patients, Hispanic patients, and those with concomitant asthma were significantly more likely to receive IT. Approximately 53% completed less than 1 year and 84% completed less than 3 years of IT. Patients who received IT used significantly less pharmacy (12.1 vs 8.9 claims, P < .0001), outpatient (30.7 vs 22.9 visits, P < .0001), and inpatient (1.2 vs 0.4 admissions, P = .02) resources in the 6 months after versus before IT. Pharmacy ($330 vs $60, P < .0001), outpatient ($735 vs $270, P < .0001), and inpatient ($2441 vs $1, P < .0001) costs (including costs for IT care) were significantly reduced after IT., Conclusion: Despite suboptimal treatment persistence (only 16% of patients completed 3 years of IT), resource use and costs after treatment were significantly reduced from pre-IT levels.

Exposure of nasal mucosa to various allergic and/or non-allergic stimuli might result in rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis affects 10-25% of population making it the most prevalent allergic disorder. Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis affect up to 30% and 10% of pediatric population, respectively. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis varies between studies: in Poland, Breborowicz et al. reported allergic rhinitis in 16.7% of children aged 6-7, whereas Emeryk et al. observed perennial allergic rhinitis in 3.6% and seasonal allergic rhinitis in 6.2% of 8-15 year olds. Allergic rhinitis similarly to other diseases results in direct, indirect and hidden costs. In the USA (2002) direct costs were estimated at $4.195 billions and indirect at $665 millions (total of $4.863 billions). Allergic rhinitis co-exists with multiple respiratory conditions, significantly increasing treatment costs incurred by patients' and places additional burden on public finances. It also has a detrimental effect on patients' and their families' quality of life. Allergic rhinitis--although non-life threatening--significantly worsens quality of daily life and as such should be perceived as a serious medical condition not only by patients but also by medical professionals who are in position to diagnose it and implement appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem. Over 600 million patients suffer from this disease worldwide. ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma), an evidence-based document, was produced and published in 2001 using an extensive review of the available literature. The ARIA 2008 update was recently published and covers tertiary prevention of allergy, pharmacologic treatments, and immunotherapy. Nonallergic rhinitis is still a controversial area and may pose some treatment problems. Another important aspect of the ARIA update is the comorbidity of allergic rhinitis, in particular, asthma. The recommendations of the 2008 ARIA Update, as in 2001, are that patients with allergic rhinitis, particularly if persistent, should be evaluated for asthma, patients with asthma should be evaluated for rhinitis, and an effective and safe combination strategy should be used to treat diseases of the upper and lower airways. Over the last few years, severa studies performed in Spain report new data on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis sensitivity to common aeroallergens, comorbidity of allergic rhinitis and asthma, and impact on quality of life. The studies reviewed in this manuscript confirm--as do those from other developed countries--the enormous impact of the disease on society and health care in Spain.

Objectives: This analysis is focused on the comparison of costs of allergic rhinitis (R) alone or with allergic asthma (R + A) in grass pollen allergy, for subjects treated with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and symptomatic drugs, versus standard care controls., Methods: The SIMAP (Sublingual IMmunotherapy in Allergic Patients) study is a longitudinal observational database operated by a network of Allergy centers. Patients suffering from grass pollen allergy were included in this analysis and assigned to SLIT (plus drugs as needed) or to treatment with drugs alone. Outcome measures included use of medications, SLIT, visits and tests. Costs were assessed from the perspective of the Italian National Health Service; unit costs were obtained from published sources to produce an average cost/patient for the first year after enrolment., Results: One hundred and two patients were analyzed. Demographics were comparable in the two groups. Overall per patient yearly cost of treatment was higher in SLIT patients, both in the whole sample (euro311 vs. euro180/patient), in the R (euro288 vs. euro116) and R + A (euro362 vs. euro230) subpopulations, with R + A patients generating more costs than R patients in both groups. Nevertheless considerable savings were obtained in the cost of symptomatic drugs (-22% for R; -34% for R + A) in SLIT patients., Conclusions: Other studies have shown that SLIT can reduce the use of drugs for asthma and rhinitis, but this is the first time this outcome has been demonstrated in a routine care population (in the medical practice environment of an observational study) within the first year of treatment.

Background: We studied medical economic efficacy and influence by the different number of pollen scattering in patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy for Japanese cedar pollinosis., Methods: We calculated medical treatment costs and the medicine expense from medical records in eighteen cedar pollinosis patients treated with allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT-G) and with medications (M-G). We examined with the same patients for three years of different pollen scattering, mass scattering year (2005), moderate scattering year (2003), a few scattering year (2004). Furthermore, satisfaction of treatment and symptom score measured by visual analog scale in both subjects was studied in a mass scattering year., Results: Total medical costs at hospital was cheaper in IT-G than in M-G. The result was depended on prescribed medical costs. In addition, prescribed medicine agents and total medical costs did not increase by the mass scattering year of pollen. Satisfaction of treatment and symptom score in IT-G was better than that in M-G., Conclusion: Immunotherapy had a benefit on a medical economy.

Background: Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is a global health problem. Around 14 million people in Spain, France, Italy, and Austria suffer from grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis. Standard care only provides symptoms relief, while allergen specific immunotherapy (SIT) treats the underlying cause of the disease. Grazax from ALK-Abelló is a new, tablet-based, effective route of SIT for home treatment. The objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of Grazax in four Southern European countries., Methods: A prospective pharmacoeconomic analyses was carried out alongside a multinational, clinical trial measuring the efficacy of Grazax. Pooled data on resource use and health outcomes were collected. A societal perspective was adopted, and the analysis had a nine-year time horizon. The primary outcome measure was quality adjusted life years (QALYs)., Results: Grazax was superior to standard care for all efficacy endpoints, including QALYs gained, and resulted in significantly less use of rescue medication and fewer hours missed from work. Grazax was cost-effective for all countries for an annual price in the range of 1500 euros - 1900 euros. The result was improved by inclusion of future costs of asthma and exclusion of Spanish trial centers which experienced an exceptionally low pollen season., Conclusion: The analysis illustrates that allergen SIT with Grazax for grass pollen induced rhinoconjunctivitis is a cost-effective intervention in Southern Europe.

Even though there is no mortality associated with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (AR), there is significant morbidity in sufferers of this condition. The exact number of patients with AR is difficult to ascertain, with studies showing ranges from 9 to 42% of the population. Recently, the Allergies in America survey found that 14.2% of the adult U.S. population has been diagnosed with AR. It is well established that AR has a profound influence on the patient's quality of life. Not only do people with AR complain of rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, and associated eye problems disturbing, but they also have impaired emotional wellbeing and social functioning. Costs are a major burden in AR studies showing at least $6 billion/year. Although most attention related to costs in AR have been evaluating direct costs due to physician consultation and medical treatment, it is now clear that indirect costs are a major aspect of total costs in AR, especially for American businesses. Indirect costs include absenteeism from work or school because of illness and decreased productivity when at work or presenteeism. AR should be treated seriously by the medical community. Proper treatment of AR patients should not only greatly improve their quality of life, but also bring down health care costs, especially indirect ones, associated with this condition.

Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis has increased dramatically. Seventeen million people in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland suffer from grass pollen induced allergic rhinitis. Symptomatic therapy with antihistamines and topical steroids is partially effective but allergen-specific immunotherapy by injection or sublingual routes is superior. The grass allergen tablet (GRAZAX) is a new allergen-specific immunotherapy for home administration., Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of the grass allergen tablet compared with symptomatic medication in seven Northern European countries., Methods: A prospective pharmacoeconomic analysis was carried out alongside a multinational clinical trial. Pooled data on resource use and health outcomes were collected. A societal perspective was adopted, and the analysis had a 9-year time horizon. The outcome measure was Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)., Results: The grass allergen tablet was clinically superior to symptomatic treatment, producing statistically significant differences for all efficacy end-points, including the number of QALYs gained - 0.976 vs. 0.947 QALYs gained. There was a significantly higher usage of the rescue medications loratadine and budesonide, and more hours missed from work (production loss), in the symptomatic treatment group. The cost per QALY gained in the grass allergen tablet group was similar in the seven countries (euro 12,930 to euro 18,263 for an annual cost of the grass allergen tablet of euro 1500). The analysis showed that the grass allergen tablet was cost-effective for all countries for an annual treatment cost below euro 2200., Conclusion: The pharmacoeconomic analysis illustrated that allergen-specific immunotherapy with the grass allergen tablet is a cost-effective intervention for the prevention of grass pollen induced rhinoconjunctivitis in Northern European countries, for a tablet price below euro 6. In Germany for example the price of the tablet is euro 2.95 corresponding to a yearly treatment cost of euro 358 - based on a 9-year time horizon.

Background: Seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis can, for some people, reduce quality of life and the ability to cope with everyday tasks., Scope: In this paper we investigate the cost-effectiveness of immunization therapy with Alutard SQ (ASQ) and compare the cost-effectiveness in countries where the therapy has been in use in order to assess the impact of national therapeutic practices on the results of health economic assessments. Data are obtained from a clinical trial carried out in 2001-2002. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of immunization we have added data on resource use in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, and Sweden., Findings: The computations result in cost-effectiveness ratios for allergen immunization between 10,000 euros and 20,000 euros per QALY even without provision for indirect costs, and achieving dominance in most countries where indirect costs have also been taken into account. The country comparisons show that the direct cost of administrating the up-dosing and maintenance differs considerably between countries, and that the cost of medical staff is substantial, constituting in most cases more than half of the direct costs of the immunization therapy., Conclusion: The study shows that immunotherapy with SQ allergen extract is cost-effective in a wide range of national environments, and that cost-effectiveness differences by country are largely a result of different practices in the up-dosing phase.

Although formerly regarded as a nuisance disease, allergic rhinitis (AR) has a considerable effect on quality of life and can have significant consequences if left untreated. The total burden of this disease lies not only in impaired physical and social functioning but also in a financial burden made greater when considering evidence that AR is a possible causal factor in comorbid diseases such as asthma or sinusitis. Compared with matched controls, patients with AR have an approximate twofold increase in medication costs and 1.8-fold the number of visits to health practitioners. Hidden direct costs include the treatment of comorbid asthma, chronic sinusitis, otitis media, upper respiratory infection, and nasal polyposis. Nasal congestion, the most prominent symptom in AR, is associated with sleep-disordered breathing, a condition that can have a profound effect on mental health, including increased psychiatric disorders, depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse. Furthermore, sleep-disordered breathing in childhood and adolescence is associated with increased disorders of learning performance, behavior, and attention. In the United States, AR results in 3.5 million lost workdays and 2 million lost schooldays annually. Patients struggle to alleviate their misery, frequently self-adjusting their treatment regimen of over-the-counter and prescription medications because of lack of efficacy, deterioration of efficacy, lack of 24-hour relief, and bothersome side effects. Ironically, health care providers overestimate patient satisfaction with therapy. Therefore, improvement in patient-practitioner communication may enhance patient adherence with prescribed regimens.

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of first- and newer-generation antihistamines for the management of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), with a focus on management in the pharmacy., Data Sources: A literature review was performed using MEDLINE (1966-October 2005), with no time or language restrictions. Key words or phrases used were histamine, antihistamine(s), first- and second-generation, allergic rhinitis, chronic idiopathic urticaria, quality of life, impairment, sedation, cost-effectiveness, astemizole, cetirizine, desloratadine, diphenhydramine, fexofenadine, loratadine, hydroxyzine, ketotifen, and mizolastine. Additional references were found in the bibliographies of the articles cited., Study Selection and Data Extraction: Clinical trials and other experimental studies of the use of antihistamines for the management of allergic rhinitis and CIU were selected. Review papers and guidelines were also included., Data Synthesis: First-generation antihistamines are effective at ameliorating the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and CIU; however, they are associated with adverse effects due to a lack of selectivity for the histamine H(1)-receptor and an ability to bind to cerebral H(1)-receptors. Newer-generation agents, in general, possess high H(1)-receptor selectivity and a low tendency to cross the blood-brain barrier, while maintaining efficacy. In general, safety at elevated doses has been demonstrated for the newer antihistamines, although higher rates of sedation and impairment have been reported with increasing doses for some agents., Conclusions: Pharmacists can play an important role in the management of allergic rhinitis and CIU by considering the relative advantages of newer-generation agents when reviewing treatment options.

Objective: This study compared health service use and costs among adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and adults with depression, diabetes, or seasonal allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergy)., Methods: Pharmacy and medical claims data from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2001, were obtained from a large U.S. managed care plan. Patients were divided into one of four mutually exclusive cohorts (ADHD, depression, diabetes, or seasonal allergy) on the basis of their diagnosis or prescriptions. Age, gender, comorbid conditions, and type of dominant provider were compared for the four groups. Thereafter, general linear models with post-hoc multiple comparison tests were used to compare health service use and costs by site of service., Results: The study population included 143,561 patients. The four mutually exclusive groups included 58,017 with depression, 45,479 with diabetes, 33,272 with a seasonal allergy, and 6,793 had ADHD. Comorbid mental health conditions occurred with significantly greater frequency among patients with ADHD and among those with depression than among patients in the other groups. Patients with ADHD and those with depression received care from a mental health provider significantly more often than those with diabetes or a seasonal allergy. Patients with ADHD had fewer average outpatient, inpatient, and emergency department visits than patients with depression or diabetes, and office visit frequency for patients with ADHD was significantly different from that of patients with a seasonal allergy. Annual total costs were lowest among patients with a seasonal allergy ($2,743), which were not significantly different than the costs for patients with ADHD ($3,020)., Conclusions: Adult ADHD poses an economic burden that is less than that of depression or diabetes but greater than that of a seasonal allergy.

Objective: To investigate the health and monetary consequences of treating allergy with specific immunotherapy (SIT) compared with symptomatic treatment/standard care among patients with grass pollen or mite allergy., Methods: We performed an economic analysis based on 253 grass- and/or mite allergic patients who started SIT from 1.1.1996 to 1.1.2002 at the Allergy Unit, Aarhus University Hospital and at a specialist practice in Aarhus. Relevant data were collected before, during and after SIT treatment from the national health service based on each patient's personal identification number and medical records and from a specifically designed questionnaire. A cost-benefit analysis including direct and indirect costs before, during and after SIT was performed. In addition direct costs were related to the clinical effect (improvement in well-being) in the form of a cost-effectiveness analysis., Results: The direct cost per patient/year before SIT (equivalent to standard care) was DKK 2,580. The investment in SIT was DKK 27,545 (in present values) per patient over a 4-year period. After SIT the cost was reduced to DKK 1,072 per patient/year. In the long term, prospective introduction of SIT incurred additional present-value direct costs of DKK 13,676 per patient treated and DKK 2,784 per patient/year of improved well-being. However, when indirect costs were included in the economic evaluation SIT was shown to be net beneficial., Conclusion: This study reveals that SIT is associated with initial resource investments and subsequent resource savings in the long term compared with standard care. When all consequences are measured in monetary terms, and assuming that sick days are associated with a loss of productivity, this analysis suggests that SIT increases societal welfare. This conclusion also holds if there is no loss of productivity.