Once-daily fexofenadine HCl improves quality of life and reduces work and activity impairment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

Background: Fexofenadine HCl (Allegra, Telfast) is approved in the US for t wice-daily dosing for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Objective: To determine the effect of once-daily fexofenadine HCl on patien t-reported quality of life and impairment at work, in the classroom, and in daily activities due to seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. Methods: This placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study included p atients aged 12 to 65 years with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhini tis symptoms. Outcomes were assessed using self-administered questionnaires at baseline, week 1, and week 2. Outcome measures included change from bas eline in: overall Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) score; individual RQLQ domain scores; work, classroom, and daily activity i mpairment measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPA I) instrument; and ratings in 3 generic health domains from the SF-36 Healt h Survey. Results: Intent to treat efficacy analyses included 845 patients from 40 si tes. Patients receiving either 120 or 180 mg QD fexofenadine HCl reported s ignificantly greater improvement (P less than or equal to.006) in overall R QLQ score than patients receiving placebo. Similarly, both fexofenadine tre atment groups reported significantly greater reductions in overall work imp airment and daily activity impairment compared with the placebo group (P le ss than or equal to.004). There was a trend for improvement in classroom im pairment with fexofenadine treatment, although differences from placebo wer e not statistically significant. Generic health measures demonstrated fexof enadine HCl treatment had a positive effect on general health. Conclusion: Once-daily fexofenadine HCl, 120 or 180 mg, significantly impro ved patient-reported quality of life and reduced performance impairment in work and daily activities due to seasonal. allergic rhinitis symptoms compa red with placebo.