Control of allergic rhinitis in four latin american countries: Rinola study

Up to 40% of people worldwide suffer from allergic rhinitis. Although there are clinical trials that describe its characteristics, there is a lack of real-world studies from Latin America. This manuscript describes a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicenter study that took place in 4 countries from Latin America (Colombia, Argentina, Cuba and Peru) and which included 412 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis between November 2017 and June 2020. Patients completed different assessment questionnaires and their sociodemographic and clinical data were collected.

This study included patients aged between 15 and 39 years old. Three quarters of the participants presented with nasal obstruction and 81% with persistent allergic rhinitis. 31% of them had associated asthma. Skin tests were positive in over 80% of the participants (81.3% were positive for Dermatophagoides farinae and 88.6% positive for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus). All but one participant reported that allergic rhinitis affected their daily activities. Upon consultation, specialists started nasal corticosteroids in 72% of the patients, but only 17% patients were on immunotherapy. 60% of the patients were already on oral antihistamines only.

In conclusion, this study confirms that people with allergic rhinitis from Latin America have an impaired quality of life due to persistent disease. Dust mites are the main sensitizers.