Long-Term Treatment of Persistent Allergic Rhinitis with Levocetirizine

Background: The impact of treatment on specific aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including limitations in particular activities and quality of sleep, has not been clarified in persistent allergic rhinitis. Our objective was to determine the effect of long-term treatment with levocetirizine on the five most affected daily activities and all sleep parameters of the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) in persistent allergic rhinitis patients. Methods/Data base: This was a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel group study comparing the effect of treatment with levocetirizine 5mg versus placebo once daily for 6 months on HRQOL and symptoms in 551 adults with persistent allergic rhinitis. HRQOL was assessed using the RQLQ. Repeated measures analyses were performed on RQLQ scores for the five most affected daily activities and three sleep items. Results: Levocetirizine provided significant and clinically relevant improvements in baseline RQLQ scores for the five activities most important to patients (doing housework, playing sport, driving, outdoor activities, activities at work) and three sleep items (difficulty getting to sleep, wake up during the night, lack of a good night's sleep), compared to placebo, over the 6-month treatment period. All improvements were pronounced and significantly greater for levocetirizine at each time point over 6 months. Conclusions: Levocetirizine provides clinically relevant improvements in the most affected daily activities and sleep parameters in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis. The improvements are sustained over long periods and should therefore substantially improve the overall quality of life of these patients year round.