The effect of fexofenadine hydrochloride on productivity and quality of life in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

The present study examined the impact of once-daily fexofenadine hydrochloride (HCl) 180 mg on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in subjects with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind. parallel-group, placebo-controlled study. Subjects completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire at baseline and at weeks 2 and 4. The primary HRQL end point was mean change from baseline to week 4 in total DLQI score. Subjects in the fexofenadine HCl treatment group (n = 163) experienced significantly greater improvements in mean total DLQI score (P = .0219) and in the individual domains of symptoms and feelings (P = .0119) and personal relationships (P = .0091) compared with those in the placebo group (n = 91). Subjects who received fexofenadine HCl experienced less work productivity impairment, overall work impairment, and activity impairment than those who received placebo. The results indicated that once-daily fexofenadine HCl 180 mg improved the HRQL of subjects with CIU, as assessed by change in total DLQI score.