Economic and quality-of-life impact of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in Oxfordshire

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the economic and quality-of-life (QoL) impact of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC) from the individual patient perspective. SETTING The study population was drawn from the general public of Oxfordshire, England. METHODS Participants were recruited from either general practices or the casualty department of the Oxford Eye Hospital (OEH). All persons who were between 16 and 80 years of age and English speaking were eligible for enrolment in the study. The inclusion criteria for cases was that participants: 1) experienced itchy, bloodshot and watering eyes at some time between February and August every year since 1999, and 2) considered it likely that this was in response to seasonal allergens. Controls were drawn from the same sources and were age- and sex-matched to cases. Participants completed the EQ-5D Health Questionnaire, the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), the National Eye Institute (U.S.) Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25), and a specially developed Health Economic and Demographic Questionnaire. RESULTS Most participants in both groups were female (67.5% in the SAC and 70% in the control group, P = 0.565). Weekly earnings were lower in the SAC group (P < 0.001), as the SAC group also worked fewer hours per week,: (P < 0.001). Participants with SAC also experienced a greater degree of pain and discomfort as measured by the EQ-5D (P = 0.018) and a lower perception of health using the EQ-VAS (P = 0.039). Statistically significant differences between both groups were detected in all domains of the VFQ-25, except general and colour vision, although the differences were thought to be clinically significant only for the ocular pain domain. The RQLQ scores were also all found to differ significantly between groups (P < 0.001). The total of both the public health care and private out-of-pocket costs of SAC in our study population ranged on. average between pound64.61 for a pensioner to pound123.69 for a person with SAC in paid employment. CONCLUSIONS SAC is a costly, highly prevalent, chronic condition associated with significant reductions in both ocular and general quality of life, as well as ongoing out-of-pocket expenses and health care costs. Medications that reduce this demand on health care systems and out-of-pocket expenses by patients could be of potential importance in reducing the overall economic and health burden of illness posed by SAC.