Welcome to our September research update! Getting involved with research is an important way to impact asthma and allergy treatments, education, and awareness.
This month, we are highlighting clinical trials, surveys, and news on:
- Asthma
- Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)
- Impacts of nasal allergies on work productivity
- Flu and COVID-19 vaccine rates among people with asthma
- Mental health impact of eczema in children and teens
Note: The links below will take you to external websites.
Asthma and Allergy Clinical Trials
Participate in Research for Potential Asthma Treatments
Individuals living with asthma have hope. A clinical trial seeking volunteers who have experienced an asthma flare-up in the past year despite taking a daily management medication. Compensation may be available for eligible individuals.Sponsored by Antidote
Are You Currently Taking Oral Corticosteroids (OCS) for Your Asthma?
Would you like to contribute to important new research? SUNRISE is a clinical study investigating whether a new biologic treatment called tezepelumab may help to reduce or remove the need for OCS in adults with severe asthma. The study is looking for people who:
- Are between 18 and 80 years of age
- Have had an asthma diagnosis for at least 1 year
- Have been taking OCS for asthma for at least 6 months
- Have been using inhaled corticosteroids for at least a year, and a long-acting beta 2-agonist (LABA) for at least 3 months
- Have not been receiving any biologic treatment for asthma for at least 4 months
Sponsored by AstraZeneca
Does Your Child Have Uncontrolled Hives?
There is a new clinical trial testing a medicine called dupilumab to see if it can safely help children aged ≥ 2 years to <12 years with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). CSU is marked by the appearance of itchy hives.
Sponsored by Sanofi
Surveys
Share Your Experiences Living with CSU (Chronic Hives)
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is leading a study to learn more about the experiences of people living with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), also known as chronic hives. If you have CSU, or are a caregiver to someone with CSU, we invite you to participate in this research survey.
Your insights will help us guide educational content and programmatic resources around CSU. The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete.
Interviews and Focus Groups
Participants Needed for Asthma Focus Groups
AAFA, in partnership with PlatformQ Patient Education (PPE), is looking for people who manage mild to moderate asthma to take part in a focus group. The focus group will give you a chance to share your firsthand experiences and needs while managing asthma. Information learned from this focus group will help AAFA and PPE improve our education.
The time commitment will be about 2 hours. If selected for the focus group, you will be compensated for your time. If you would like to participate in the focus group, please take this quick survey to see if you qualify.
Latest Asthma and Allergy News
Allergy
Impact of Allergies on Work Productivity and Costs
Worldwide, nasal allergies (called allergic rhinitis) affect between 10% to 30% of the population. Allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes can make it harder to focus or be productive at work. Long-term, these impacts can affect the economy. A recent study looked more into how allergic rhinitis affects work productivity and the cost impacts in 40 different countries.
To do this, researchers looked at data from the MASK-air® app, which collects information from people who have nasal allergies. Researchers asks questions to find out how much nasal allergies affected people's ability to work. They focused on both working while sick and missing work. The study found that when nasal allergies are poorly controlled, it can reduce work productivity by about 60.7%. This loss in productivity leads to increased costs worldwide.
People who have both nasal allergies and asthma have an even greater reduction in work productivity, especially when their nasal allergies are poorly controlled. The study showed that better control of nasal allergies could help improve work productivity and reduce the economic burden associated with the condition.
Asthma
Differences in Asthma Frequency and Costs for Children and Teens
Asthma is a common and costly condition among children and teens. A new study looked at differences in asthma frequency and medical costs among children and teens in the U.S. using data from 2016 to 2021. The study included 2,365 children and teens with treated asthma (those who needed medical care for their asthma) and compared them to 40,497 children and teens who were not getting treatment for their asthma.
The study found that children with treated asthma were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic, male, and have public insurance. Children and teens with treated asthma had an extra $3,362.56 in yearly medical costs compared to those with untreated asthma. This added cost included medicines, emergency room visits, and doctor visits. Non-Hispanic Black children with treated asthma had lower total and office-based medical costs than White children with asthma. The study highlights ongoing differences in asthma frequency and medical costs based on race, ethnicity, and other factors.
Flu and COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake Among People with Asthma
Managing asthma well, including getting vaccines, can help protect people with asthma from infections and severe symptoms during times when respiratory viruses are common. A recently published study looked at COVID-19 and flu vaccine rates and barriers among people with asthma.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) conducted an online survey of people with asthma from April to May in 2022. The survey asked whether or not people got vaccinated and what kept them from getting vaccinated.
Most survey respondents said they got an flu vaccine for the 2021–2022 flu season (77%) and at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (87%). Age, gender, race, and income influenced who got the flu shot. Age and where people lived (city or rural) affected COVID-19 vaccination rates. Access issues were not commonly reported as something that kept people from getting vaccines. These results could help create better education and communication to increase vaccination rates and reduce severe outcomes of respiratory illnesses.
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Mental Health Impact of Chronic Skin Conditions in Children
Chronic skin conditions like acne and eczema can lead to stigmatization (feeling “othered” or left out). This impact can be very hard for children and affect their mental health and quality of life.
A recent study looked at 1,671 children ages 8 to 17 across the U.S. and Canada to see how much stigma they faced based on how severe their skin conditions were and how easy they were to see. Children and their caregivers were asked about their condition severity, stigma, quality of life, mental health, and peer relationships.
The findings showed that about 44% of the kids had felt moderate to severe stigma. Stigma was closely linked to lower quality of life, higher levels of depression and anxiety, and poor peer relationships. Girls reported more stigma than boys, and children with conditions like excessive sweating were more likely to have depression and anxiety.
The study highlights the importance of not only treating eczema but also addressing mental health issues that come with having this skin condition. This should result in improved overall well-being.
Medical Review: September 2024 by Jerry Shier, MD
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