Medication-related expenditures by individuals with allergic rhinitis in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the medication-related expenditures in individuals with allergic rhinitis (AR) and identify contributory factors that affect these expenditures.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study from August 2013 to January 2014.

SETTING

Kwara state has 16 local government areas, a total land mass of 36,825 km(2), and a population of 2,591,555.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Of the 308 adult subjects, 66 had AR using the Score for Allergic Rhinitis (SFAR). Information on medication-related expenditure and associated factors in AR was obtained using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and comparative analyses between AR and non-AR subjects were performed using an independent-sample t test and χ(2) test. Factors associated with cost of care were assessed using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The AR crude prevalence rate was 21.4%. Of the subjects, the mean ± SD age was 37.6 ± 10.0 years, and 87.9% were married, 72.7% were self-employed, and 69.7% were in the low socioeconomic class. In total, 69.7% had intermittent symptoms, while 66.7% had a positive family history of allergy. Polypharmacy care was employed in 76.1%, and 30.3% had comorbidity with asthma. The mean monthly income was 842 US dollars (USD), while the mean monthly cost of care was 81 USD, constituting 9.6% of mean monthly income. All payments were through out-of-pocket-expenses. Factors associated with convenience of cost of care were positive family history (odds ratio [OR], 7.93; P = .021) and presence of intermittent symptoms (OR, 9.36; P = .013).

CONCLUSION

The medication-related expenditure of AR is burdensome with an average expenditure of almost 10% of monthly income.