Allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma are chronic diseases in which the airways become inflamed in response to allergens. Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is recommended for those unable to manage symptoms using pharmacotherapy. This study estimated healthcare costs and utilisation for patients with AR and asthma. Mean annual outpatient visits, pharmaceutical costs and inpatient hospitalisations were calculated for 2010 and 2014, with pharmaceutical and inpatient costs stratified by AIT use. AR and asthma patients had a 35% higher mean number of physician visits and up to 90% higher mean pharmaceutical costs compared to controls. The cost of pharmaceuticals and inpatient hospitalisations were 54% lower in those prescribed AIT. Further research is recommended to understand the reasons for these cost differences.

The present results indicate that one-sided nasal challenge with histamine at a concentration of 1 mg/mL is sufficient to separate healthy subjects from patients with hyperreactivity of the nasal mucosa. However, the test does not differentiate between patients with allergic rhinitis and patients with hyperreflectory rhinitis.

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