Poor rhinitis and asthma control is associated with decreased health-related quality-of-life and utilities: A MASK-air study

Vieira RJ, Leemann L, Briggs A et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 Mar 30:S2213-2198(24)00329-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.03.036.

Highlights box:

What is already known about this topic?

National estimates of patients' quality-of-life based on control of asthma/allergic rhinitis are lacking. Real-world data may provide insights into quality-of-life of patients with asthma/allergic rhinitis and improve the ability to provide care to these patients.

What does this article add to our knowledge?

This study provides country-specific estimates (per disease control level) for quality-of-life in patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma across multiple European countries, using EQ-5D utility index scores and EQ-5D visual analogue scale.

How does this study impact current management guidelines?

This study points to the importance of achieving a good rhinitis and asthma control.

It also provides insights into patients’ preferences regarding different control levels and comorbid status, which are essential for guideline development.

Abstract

Background

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma may impact health-related quality-of-life. However, national estimates on the quality-of-life of patients with AR or asthma are lacking.

Objective

To provide estimates for utility scores and EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for patients with AR or asthma.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study using direct patient data from the MASK-air® app on European MASK-air® users with self-reported AR or asthma. We used a multiattribute instrument (EQ-5D) to measure quality-of-life (as utility scores and EQ-5D VAS values). Mean scores were calculated per country and disease control level using multilevel regression models with post-stratification, accounting for age and sex biases.

Results

We assessed data from up to 7905 MASK-air® users reporting a total of up to 82,737 days. For AR, utilities ranged from 0.86-0.99 for good control versus 0.72-0.85 for poor control; EQ-5D VAS levels ranged from 78.9-87.9 for good control versus 55.3-64.2 for poor control. For asthma, utilities ranged from 0.84-0.97 for good control versus 0.73-0.87 for poor control; EQ-5D VAS levels ranged from 68.4-81.5 for good control versus 51.4-64.2 for poor control. Poor disease control was associated with a mean loss of 0.14 utilities for both AR and asthma. For the same control levels, AR and asthma were associated with similar utilities and EQ-5D VAS levels. However, lower values were observed for asthma+AR when compared to AR alone.

Conclusion

Poor AR or asthma control are associated with reduced quality-of-life. The estimates obtained from mHealth data may provide valuable insights for health technology assessment studies.

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