The impact of SLIT on the quality of life in patients allergic to house dust mites. About a Tunisian prospective study.

Allergic respiratory diseases are very common worldwide with an increased socioeconomic burden. Allergic immunotherapy (AIT) remains the only curative treatment of these patients. We aimed to highlight the impact of the AIT on the quality of life and on the mental state of allergic patients to house dust mites (HDM). It is a prospective study including stable HDM-allergic patients confirmed with a prick test. All the included patients had received sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) during 3 years. We used a symptom score to assess the clinical improvement. Rhinitis quality of life questionnaire and Asthma quality of life questionnaire were used. We also screened for the psychological disorders based on the Health Anxiety and Depression (HAD) questionnaire. We enrolled 32 patients; with a mean age of 21.26 years. Thirty cases had an allergic rhinitis and 22 cases had an allergic asthma. Most of them reported a clinical improvement (80%). We noticed a significant reduction in the total symptoms score (P < 0.001). Their daily activity, practical problems and emotional scores were improved (P < 0.001). Patients with an allergic rhinitis had less sleep disorders (P < 0.001). Twenty-nine patients reported a considerable improvement of their quality of life (P < 0.001). We also noticed a reduction in their depression and anxiety levels. In fact, the total mean HAD score decreased (from 20.5 up to 11.13) (P < 0.001); with a diminished anxiety (from 10.42 up to 5.37) and depression scores (from 10.08 up to 5.75) (P < 0.001). Our study showed an improvement in the quality of life and in the mental state of allergic patients treated with sublingual immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]