Living With Hereditary Angioedema in Australia: Findings From a National Observational Study Using Short Message Service to Monitor the Burden of Disease.

BACKGROUND

To understand the impact and burden of disease experienced by patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the use of short message service (SMS) to communicate with patients with HAE facilitates the collection of attack rate, medication use, and quality of life measurements.

METHODS

Patients aged 12 years and older with doctor-confirmed HAE C1-inhibitor deficiency types I and II were invited to participate. We devised a novel method for monitoring attacks by using questions weekly via SMS to gain a more accurate picture of the burden of HAE in Australian patients in real time.

RESULTS

A total of 2,648 weekly SMS messages were sent to 47 participants; 1,892 responses were received (71%). Participants reported 463 attacks across all treatment groups. Sixty percent of attacks were treated. Icatibant and C1-inhibitor concentrate were administered IV for 210 and 67 attacks, respectively. Of the 463 recorded attacks, 23 necessitated presentation to the hospital (5%), predominantly for facial and/or throat swelling. Several participants reported attacks (n = 186), which they chose not to treat. Most of those attacks were rated mildly severe. Twenty-one participants reported lost days owing to HAE attacks (44.7%). Fifty-eight attacks (17%) resulted in time away from work or school, equating to a total of 85.5 days lost.

CONCLUSIONS

This study was a first of its kind, real-world, prospective, observational study of Australian patients living with HAE. Despite the availability of effective on-demand therapies, HAE remains burdensome. Wider access to safe and effective prophylactic therapies is needed for patients living with HAE.