Urticaria: impact on quality of life and economic cost

Brigid F O'Donnell

doi:10.1016/j.iac.2013.09.011

Urticaria: impact on quality of life and economic cost

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2014 Feb;34(1):89-104. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2013.09.011.

Author

Brigid F O'Donnell¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Dermatology, Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1, Ireland; Department of Dermatology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland. Electronic address: brid.odonnell@cuh.ie.

PMID: 24262691
DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2013.09.011

Abstract

Patients with urticaria suffer itch, swellings, fatigue caused by sleep disturbance and the side effects of medication, and disruption of many facets of their lives. Much progress has been made in formally evaluating the degree of quality-of-life (QoL) impairment suffered by patients with urticaria. This review focuses on QoL in chronic urticaria (>6 weeks duration) and examines QoL measures, including the chronic urticaria-quality of life questionnaire (CU-Q2oL). Patients with urticaria have difficulty identifying and coping with their emotions. The psychiatric comorbidity and the financial burden on the patient and society because of chronic urticaria, is also examined.

Keywords: Angioedema; Cost; Health-related quality of life; Patient-reported outcomes; Psychiatric comorbidity; Urticaria.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Health Care Costs*
Humans
Quality of Life*
Urticaria / economics*
Urticaria / psychology*