Self-Medication in Persistent Rhinitis: Overuse of Decongestants in Half of the Patients

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Volume 2, Issue 3 , Pages 313-319, May 2014

• Els Mehuys, MPharm, PhD
, 
• Philippe Gevaert, MD, PhD
, 
• Guy Brusselle, MD, PhD
, 
• Thierry Van Hees, MPharm, PhD
, 
• Els Adriaens, MSc, PhD
,
• Thierry Christiaens, MD, PhD
, 
• Luc Van Bortel, MD, PhD
, 
• Inge Van Tongelen, MPharm, PhD
, 
• Jean-Paul Remon, MPharm, PhD
, 
• Koen Boussery, MPharm, PhD

Received 27 November 2013; received in revised form 8 January 2014; accepted 14 January 2014. published online 31 March 2014.

• Abstract
• Full Text
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• References

Article Outline

• Background
• Methods
  • Study design
  • Participants
  • Data collection
  • Data analysis
• Results
  • Subject characteristics
  • Medication use
• Discussion
• Acknowledgment
• References
• Copyright

Background

Patients with rhinitis often self-medicate with over-the-counter drugs, however this self-treating population has remained largely unstudied.

Objective

To characterize individuals self-medicating persistent rhinitis and to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for intranasal decongestant overuse within this population.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational study of individuals self-medicating persistent rhinitis (defined according to the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma guidelines). Participants (n = 895) completed a self-administered questionnaire to assess current symptoms, rhinitis medication, and previous physician diagnosis. Intranasal decongestant overuse was defined as daily use for at least 1 year.

Results

The vast majority of subjects (95%) had moderate-to-severe rhinitis. Nasal congestion was the predominant symptom (median visual analog scale, 6.6 cm; interquartile range, 3.4 cm). Sixty-five percent had had their current nasal problems for more than 5 years. Approximately 80% had a physician diagnosis (mainly allergic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis). The prevalence of intranasal decongestant overuse was high (49%), despite the fact that most of the patients (80%) were educated about the limit on duration of use. Use of intranasal glucocorticosteroids was inversely related to being an overuser (odds ratio 0.24 [95% CI, 0.17-0.35]). The risk of intranasal decongestant overuse also was reduced by use of other medications (oral H1 antihistamines and decongestants), use of nasal saline solution, and more symptoms of itchy and/or runny eyes or colored mucus. Risk was increased by a more severely blocked nose, longer duration of symptoms, the presence of sleep disturbance, higher body mass index, and previous advice to limit the duration of intranasal decongestant use.

Conclusion

Half of the individuals self-medicating persistent rhinitis overused intranasal decongestants, despite the fact that they were educated about the limit on duration of use.

Key words: Rhinitis, Self-medication, Community pharmacy

Abbreviations used: ARIA, Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma, OTC, Over-the-counter, SFAR, Score For Allergic Rhinitis, VAS,Visual analog scale