Substantial psychosocial impairments in patients with chronic urticaria are associated with delayed referral to urticaria centers, non-academic treatments, and dietary changes.

BACKGROUND

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is common in allergological practice. Although therapeutic options have improved in the past decade, patients still suffer from a significant burden of disease and are often treated insufficiently.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at analyzing the psychiatric comorbidities, social impairments, and treatment gap in a real-world setting.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult patients with CIU were investigated for demographical data, medical history, and psychosocial burden. Validated questionnaires were used to assess urticaria activity, control of disease, quality-of-life impairment, and psychiatric comorbidities.

RESULTS

82 patients (78% female; 47.5 ± 14.8 years) were included. 65.9% had insufficient disease control, 11% reported on prior self-medication with drugs, 19.5% were seeking help from non-academic medicine, and 54.9% tried a change of diet. The use of non-academic treatment was significantly associated with higher disease activity. Self-initiated dietary changes were significantly associated with less control of disease. Delayed referrals to a urticaria-specialized center were significantly linked to self-reported psychiatric diseases, self-medication with drugs and self-initiated dietary changes.

CONCLUSION

Our data show an unsatisfactory control of CIU in many patients and substantial psychosocial impairments which are also associated with a delayed referral to urticaria centers, self-initiated non-academic treatments, and dietary changes.