Adherence and persistence in allergen immunotherapy (APAIT): a reporting checklist for retrospective studies

Authors

Oliver Pfaar, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Section of Rhinology and Allergy, University Hospital Marburg, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Philippe Devillier, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Respiratoire - VIM Suresnes, Hôpital Foch, Suresnes Université Paris Saclay, France.
Jochen Schmitt, Center for Evidence-based Healthcare, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU, Dresden, Germany.
Pascal Demoly, IDESP, UMR UA11 University Hospital of Montpellier - INSERM, Montpellier, France.
Ole Hilberg, Department of Internal Medicine, Lillebaelt Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
Lawrence DuBuske, George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Nicole Hass, Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP), Vienna, Austria.
Ted Klok, Paediatric Allergy Treatment Centre, Deventer Hospital, Deventer, the Netherlands.
Caroline Beutner, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-27-2023

Journal

Allergy

DOI

10.1111/all.15723

Keywords

Allergen immunotherapy; checklist; compliance; medication adherence; persistence; retrospective

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Adherence is essential for the long-term efficacy of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) and has been evaluated in numerous retrospective studies. However, there are no published guidelines for best practice in measuring and reporting adherence or persistence to AIT, which has resulted in substantial heterogeneity among existing studies. The 'adherence and persistence in AIT (APAIT)' checklist has been developed to guide the reporting, design, and interpretation of retrospective studies that evaluate adherence or persistence to AIT in clinical practice. METHODS: Five existing checklists, focussing on study protocol design, the use of retrospective databases/patient registries, and on the appraisal and reporting of observational studies, were identified and merged. Relevant items were selected and tailored to be specific for AIT. The content of the checklist was discussed by 11 experts from Europe, the US, and Canada, representing allergy, healthcare and life sciences, and health technology appraisal. RESULTS: The APAIT checklist presents a set of items that should either be included, or at least considered, when reporting retrospective studies that assess adherence or persistence to AIT. Items are organised into four categories comprising study objective, design and methods, data analysis, and results and discussion. The checklist highlights the need for clarity and transparency in reporting and emphasises the importance of considering potential sources of bias in retrospective studies evaluating adherence or persistence to AIT. CONCLUSIONS: The APAIT checklist provides a pragmatic guide for reporting retrospective adherence and persistence studies in AIT. Importantly, it identifies potential sources of bias and how these influence outcomes.

APA Citation

Pfaar, Oliver; Devillier, Philippe; Schmitt, Jochen; Demoly, Pascal; Hilberg, Ole; DuBuske, Lawrence; Hass, Nicole; Klok, Ted; and Beutner, Caroline, "Adherence and persistence in allergen immunotherapy (APAIT): a reporting checklist for retrospective studies" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2539.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2539

Department

Medicine