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An observational study of the diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria in the UK

An observational study of the diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria in the UK
An observational study of the diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria in the UK
BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic urticaria (CU) in the UK could be referred to health care professionals (HCPs) with diverse specialties using different guidelines. The aims of the present study were to determine which CU guidelines HCPs in the UK use, which tests they use for the diagnosis of CU, and how they manage CU.

METHODS: In this UK-wide survey, we designed a questionnaire covering the diagnosis and management of CU based on current guidelines. The link to the questionnaire was sent to the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI), the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), the British Society of Immunology (BSI), and the Food Allergy and Intolerance Specialist Group (FAISG) of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), who distributed the link to their members.

RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 55 allergists/immunologists, 64 dermatologists, and 43 dietitians. More dermatologists used the BAD guidelines in comparison with allergists and immunologists (93.6 vs. 12.5%; p < 0.001). On the other hand, the BSACI guidelines (83.3 vs. 14.9%; p < 0.001) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)/Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2)LEN)/European Dermatology Forum (EDF)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) guidelines (2013) (52.1 vs. 10.6%; p < 0.001) were used by more allergists and immunologists compared to dermatologists. Differences were found between allergists/immunologists and dermatologists with regard to guidelines used, investigations performed, preference of first-line antihistamine, and prescription of alternative treatment methods.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, differences in the diagnosis and management of CU between HCPs of diverse specialties were identified, which reflected differences among the guidelines used
1018-2438
1-8
Wu, Cheng-Han
aabdce6f-6ecd-4d59-b9ff-4b018f0bd4d7
Ardern-Jones, Michael Roger
7ac43c24-94ab-4d19-ba69-afaa546bec90
Eren, Efrem
ac449fc8-4ae2-4efd-ad91-9dcea3f355e2
Venter, Carina
a9b7dd5e-b0cb-4068-be82-e15b587cc20b
Wu, Cheng-Han
aabdce6f-6ecd-4d59-b9ff-4b018f0bd4d7
Ardern-Jones, Michael Roger
7ac43c24-94ab-4d19-ba69-afaa546bec90
Eren, Efrem
ac449fc8-4ae2-4efd-ad91-9dcea3f355e2
Venter, Carina
a9b7dd5e-b0cb-4068-be82-e15b587cc20b

Wu, Cheng-Han, Ardern-Jones, Michael Roger, Eren, Efrem and Venter, Carina (2015) An observational study of the diagnosis and management of chronic urticaria in the UK. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 167 (1), 1-8. (doi:10.1159/000430442). (PMID:26045080)

Record type: Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic urticaria (CU) in the UK could be referred to health care professionals (HCPs) with diverse specialties using different guidelines. The aims of the present study were to determine which CU guidelines HCPs in the UK use, which tests they use for the diagnosis of CU, and how they manage CU.

METHODS: In this UK-wide survey, we designed a questionnaire covering the diagnosis and management of CU based on current guidelines. The link to the questionnaire was sent to the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI), the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), the British Society of Immunology (BSI), and the Food Allergy and Intolerance Specialist Group (FAISG) of the British Dietetic Association (BDA), who distributed the link to their members.

RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 55 allergists/immunologists, 64 dermatologists, and 43 dietitians. More dermatologists used the BAD guidelines in comparison with allergists and immunologists (93.6 vs. 12.5%; p < 0.001). On the other hand, the BSACI guidelines (83.3 vs. 14.9%; p < 0.001) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)/Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA(2)LEN)/European Dermatology Forum (EDF)/World Allergy Organization (WAO) guidelines (2013) (52.1 vs. 10.6%; p < 0.001) were used by more allergists and immunologists compared to dermatologists. Differences were found between allergists/immunologists and dermatologists with regard to guidelines used, investigations performed, preference of first-line antihistamine, and prescription of alternative treatment methods.

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, differences in the diagnosis and management of CU between HCPs of diverse specialties were identified, which reflected differences among the guidelines used

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 10 April 2015
e-pub ahead of print date: 6 May 2015
Published date: July 2015
Organisations: Clinical & Experimental Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 379402
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/379402
ISSN: 1018-2438
PURE UUID: f78aa941-c352-4a40-b606-b62a3dd749c8
ORCID for Michael Roger Ardern-Jones: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1466-2016

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 28 Jul 2015 10:26
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:28

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Contributors

Author: Cheng-Han Wu
Author: Efrem Eren
Author: Carina Venter

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