FRIDAY, April 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Data collected from a mobile phone app show that many patients with uncontrolled allergic rhinitis have some work impairment, according to a study published online April 7 in Allergy.
Jean Bousquet, M.D., from MACVIA-France in Montpellier, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the impact of uncontrolled rhinitis on work productivity using cell phone data collection. A mobile phone app (Allergy Diary) was used to collect daily visual analogue scales (VAS) data for overall allergic symptoms; nasal, ocular, and asthma symptoms; and work. The app was available in 20 countries and included the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Allergic Specific Questionnaire (WPAI:AS) in six European countries. Data were included for 1,136 users who completed 5,818 days of VAS-work.
The researchers found that in approximately 60 percent of days, symptoms of allergic rhinitis were controlled. About 90 percent of users with uncontrolled rhinitis had some work impairment and more than 50 percent had severe work impairment. A significant correlation was identified between VAS-global calculated and VAS-work (P < 0.00001). There was a significant correlation between VAS-work and WPAI:AS in 144 users (P < 0.0001).
"This pilot study not only provides proof-of-concept for data on the work impairment collected with the app but also provides data on the app itself, especially the distribution of responses for the VAS," the authors write.
Several authors were employed by biopharmaceutical companies.
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