Five years ago, another national survey found results similar to those of NASAL regarding the impact of AR on daily life and productivity at work.16 A key goal of surveys such as this is to raise physician and ultimately patient awareness of the significant physical, social, emotional, mental, and economic impact AR has on the US public. AR is an eminently treatable condition. Environmental controls and immunotherapy are directed toward the triggers and the pathophysiologic process.13 Pharmacologic treatments are generally well tolerated, and studies have long shown that effective therapy can improve sleep quality and reduce daytime fatigue,17,18 as well as benefit work productivity19 and overall QoL.20 The fact that many people with AR do not seek adequate medical advice means that clinicians may not be providing sufficient patient education and that more work on public awareness of the burden of AR is needed.
Allergic rhinitis substantially impacts patient quality of life: Findings from the Nasal Allergy Survey Assessing Limitations
Eli O. Meltzer, MD
Eli O. Meltzer, MD, has received grant/research support from and served as a consultant/advisor and a speaker for Alcon, Sunovion/Sepracor, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Meltzer has received grant/research support and served as a consultant/advisor for AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Procter & Gamble. He has served as a consultant/advisor and a speaker for Dey and Merck. He has received grant/research support from Amgen, Apotex, GlaxoSmithKline, HRA, MedImmune, Novartis, and Schering-Plough. He has served as a consultant/advisor for Alexza, Bausch & Lomb, Forest, ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Kalypsys, Meda, ONO, Optinase, and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. He has served as a speaker for Allergists for Israel, American College of Asthma & Immunology, and Florida Allergy Asthma & Immunology Society.
Gary N. Gross, MD
Gary N. Gross, MD, has served as a consultant/advisor for ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Sunovion, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Gross has served as a speaker for ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Merck, and Sunovion. He has received grant/research support from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, and Sunovion.
Rohit Katial, MD
Rohit Katial, MD, has served on the advisory board and as a speaker for Teva Pharmaceuticals.
William W. Storms, MD
William W. Storms, MD, has received grant/research support from and served as a consultant/advisor and a speaker for Alcon Labs, Merck, Sunovion, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Storms has served as a consultant/advisor and a speaker for ISTA Pharmaceuticals. He has received grant/research support from GlaxoSmithKline. He has served as a consultant/advisor for Strategic Pharmaceutical Advisors and TREAT Foundation. He has served as a speaker for AstraZeneca.