Work productivity in rhinitis using cell phones: The MASK pilot study

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis often impairs social life and performance. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of uncontrolled rhinitis assessed by visual analogue score VAS on work productivity using cell phone data collection.

A mobile phone app Allergy Diary, Android and Apple stores collects daily visual analogue scales VAS data for overall allergic symptoms VAS-global measured, nasal VAS-nasal, ocular VAS-ocular, asthma symptoms VAS-asthma and work VAS-work. A combined nasal-ocular score is calculated. Allergy Diary is available in 20 countries. The App includes the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Allergic Specific Questionnaire WPAI:AS questionnaire in 6 EU countries. All consecutive users who filled the VAS-work from June 1 to October 31, 2016 were included in the study.

A total of 1,136 users filled in 5,818 days of VAS-work. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis were controlled VAS-global<20 in approximately 60% of days. In users with uncontrolled rhinitis, approximately 90% had some work impairment and over 50% had severe work impairment VAS-work>50. There was a significant correlation between VAS-global calculated and VAS-work Rho=0.83, p<0.00001, Spearman rank test. In 144 users, there was a significant correlation between VAS-work and WPAI:AS Rho=0.53, p<0.0001.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2nm3x0h