Graham Roberts, et al.
Allergy. 2020 Jun 19. doi: 10.1111/all.14459. Online ahead of print.
Adolescents and young adults represent a large group of patients with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma. Most times their treatment is complicated due to the biological and psychosocial changes that occur as they grow. Sometimes they have difficulty in understanding the consequences of their disease, failing to take responsibility for self-management, leading to suboptimal adherence and other negative consequences. The transitional care should address the psychological, medical, educational and vocational needs of adolescents and young adults.
The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has developed a clinical practice guideline that provides evidence-based recommendations for healthcare professionals to support the transitional care of adolescents and young adults with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma.
This guideline includes general recommendations on operating a clinical service for these patients, which include: starting the transition as early as 11-13 years old, using a structured, multidisciplinary approach, ensuring they fully understand their condition and have resources they can access, active monitoring of adherence and discussing any implications for further education and work.
Specific allergy and asthma transition recommendations include simplifying medication regimes and using reminders, focusing on areas where these patients are not confident and involving peers in training them. Identifying and managing psychological and socioeconomic issues impacting disease control and quality of life; enrolling the family in assisting them to undertake self-management and encouraging them to let their friends know about their allergies and asthma are also recommendations of this guideline.
National healthcare systems may need to adapt these recommendations according to each culture. If optimal care is received by adolescents and young adults, they will become expert adult patients with the knowledge and skills to manage their condition throughout their lifes.
