Abstract
Efforts to reduce non-urgent hospital attendances during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the focus of much attention from healthcare professionals worldwide. In Ireland, due to funding constraints omalizumab is only available for hospital-based administration. Fifty-eight patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema (CSU) receiving omalizumab in our centre were rapidly transitioned to home self-administration at the start of the pandemic. We conducted an anonymised patient survey after 3 months of home therapy with the aim of characterizing the patient experience throughout this period. 41 patients participated in our questionnaire (71% response rate). 93% of patients favored self-injection of omalizumab from home, with respondents citing cost savings, time savings, improved flexibility, fewer hospital visits, and less risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection as particular benefits. Concerns regarding home administration including injecting incorrectly, forgetting a dose, or having a reaction were reported very infrequently. Eighty-three percent (83%) of patients wished to continue with home therapy long-term. This survey highlights broadly positive experiences for patients rapidly transitioning to home omalizumab administration. This data will be useful to inform healthcare funders in decisions regarding patient-centred care in CSU. Facilitating home omalizumab therapy in suitable CSU patients should be strongly considered in the post-pandemic setting.
Highlights
Efforts to reduce non-urgent hospital attendances during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the focus of much attention from healthcare professionals worldwide
chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema (CSU) patients with symptoms refractory to high dose antihistamines may benefit from the anti-IgE monoclonal antibody omalizumab.[2]
Baseline Characteristics (n 1⁄4 41) Female sex – n (%) Age – mean, years Duration of omalizumab therapy – n (%) - < 1 year - 1–4 years - 5–9 years Omalizumab dosing intervals – n (%) - 3-weekly - 4-weekly - 5-weekly - 6-weekly Omalizumab dose – n (%) - 300 mg - 450 mg - 600 mg Baseline satisfaction with omalizumab in management of symptoms – n (%) - Extremely Satisfied - Satisfied - Somewhat Satisfied - Dissatisfied - Extremely Dissatisfied approval for self-administration being granted in 2018.3 Given the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to limit hospital footfall, the transition from clinic to home-based self-administration of omalizumab was facilitated for patients with CSU in our centre
Summary
Efforts to reduce non-urgent hospital attendances during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the focus of much attention from healthcare professionals worldwide.
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