Grading the severity of allergic rhinitis for treatment strategy and drug study purposes.

Abstract

Grading the severity of rhinitis symptoms is essential for the evaluation of drug efficacy. However, a uniform grading system has not been standardized. A review of 44 journal articles and symposia from Japan, Copenhagen, and the World Health Organization indicates major differences among systems. All except the World Health Organization used a sum of rhinitis scores. The lack of standardization limits comparisons of subjective symptom changes after comparable treatments. Corrective measures include the use of evidence-based definitions of independent nasal symptoms, avoidance of biases in evaluation, and establishment of international consensus for a standardized scale in this era of globalization.

• Authors: M Okuda, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Journal: Current allergy and asthma reports (Curr Allergy Asthma Rep) Vol. 1 Issue 3 Pg. 235-41 (May 2001) ISSN: 1529-7322 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11892041 (Publication Type: Guideline, Journal Article, Practice Guideline, Review)

Topics

• Asthma (complications, drug therapy)
• Drug Therapy (standards)
• Humans
• Japan
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial (complications, drug therapy)
• Rhinitis, Vasomotor (complications, drug therapy)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome
• United States
• United States Food and Drug Administration