Adherence and effectiveness of omalizumab treatment in severe allergic asthma patients: Do the patients like injectable treatment?

Background: Long-term treatments in chronic diseases may decrease patients’ adherence.Omalizumab is considered at the fifth stage of severe allergic asthmatics(SAA). Allergen specific immunotherapy(SCIT) is added to the treatment of severe allergic rhinitis. We aimed to determine the adherence and effectiveness of omalizumab in SAA patients by comparing it with SCIT in severe allergic rhinitis(SAR) patients. Methods: 118 SAA and 89 SAR patients receiving omalizumab and SCIT at least for 1 year were included. Demographic features,monthly income of the patients,the cost of transportation to the hospital and the persistence of the treatments were assessed.Asthma control test scores,FEV1 values at the beginning and end of treatment were evaluated.The number of attacks,hospitalizations,and systemic corticosteroids need were questioned. Results: The mean age of SAA and SAR patients were 46.1±12.5 years(F/M:87/31) and 32.1±10.7 years(F/M: 50/39).16 SAA patients(13.6%),and 6 SAR patients (6.7%) discontinued their treatment.The adherence of the treatments was not statistically different between the groups(86.4%, 93.3%, respectively p=0.116).The monthly income was similar, the cost of transportation to the hospital was higher in SAA group.In the SAA group,the ACT scores and FEV1 values increased after treatment(p Conclusion: The adherence of both treatments was equally high which may be caused by parenteral usage of these drugs in the last stage of both diseases.Omalizumab is an effective compatible treatment in SAA.