Once-daily fexofenadine HCl improves quality of life and reduces work and activity impairment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Fexofenadine HCl (Allegra, Telfast) is approved in the US for twice-daily dosing for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effect of once-daily fexofenadine HCl on patient-reported quality of life and impairment at work, in the classroom, and in daily activities due to seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms.

METHODS:

This placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study included patients aged 12 to 65 years with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. Outcomes were assessed using self-administered questionnaires at baseline, week 1, and week 2. Outcome measures included change from baseline in: overall Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) score; individual RQLQ domain scores; work, classroom, and daily activity impairment measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) instrument; and ratings in 3 generic health domains from the SF-36 Health Survey.

RESULTS:

Intent to treat efficacy analyses included 845 patients from 40 sites. Patients receiving either 120 or 180 mg QD fexofenadine HCl reported significantly greater improvement (P < or = .006) in overall RQLQ score than patients receiving placebo. Similarly, both fexofenadine treatment groups reported significantly greater reductions in overall work impairment and daily activity impairment compared with the placebo group (P < or = .004). There was a trend for improvement in classroom impairment with fexofenadine treatment, although differences from placebo were not statistically significant. Generic health measures demonstrated fexofenadine HCl treatment had a positive effect on general health.

CONCLUSION:

Once-daily fexofenadine HCl, 120 or 180 mg, significantly improved patient-reported quality of life and reduced performance impairment in work and daily activities due to seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms compared with placebo.

• Authors: E O Meltzer, T B Casale, R A Nathan, A K Thompson
• Journal: Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol) Vol. 83 Issue 4 Pg. 311-7 (Oct 1999) ISSN: 1081-1206 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10541423 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Allergic Agents
• Histamine H1 Antagonists
• Terfenadine
• fexofenadine

Topics

• Activities of Daily Living
• Adolescent
• Aged
• Anti-Allergic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Histamine H1 Antagonists (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Quality of Life
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (drug therapy)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Terfenadine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Work Capacity Evaluation