Patient dropouts from sublingual allergen specific immunotherapy with house dust mites. Solving a problem.

Relevance. The insufficient effect of sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy (SLIT) is caused, first of all, by non-compliance with the treatment regimen and premature treatment termination.

Purpose of the study. Determining the frequency of patient drop-out rate during SLIT with house dust mites (HDM) allergens in children with allergic rhinitis (AR) or AR in combination with bronchial asthma (BA), with an analysis of the drop-out reasons, and approbation of the developed visit-to-visit patient management plan (Plan).

Materials and methods. We analyzed 274 cases of treatment with HDM SLIT in children. 218 patients: 67.4% (147) boys, median age 11.33 years [7.26; 15.46], the proportion of patients with BA 43.1% (94 children) – received HDM SLIT in 2013–2020. 56 patients: 71.4% (40) boys, median age 9.29 years [6.13; 15.93], the proportion of patients with BA 78.6% (44 children) received treatment in accordance with the Plan.

Results. A relatively low frequency of treatment withdrawal was noted in the first 2 years of therapy (2 years after the start of treatment, 72.47% patients continue it). However, only 52.29% complete 3 years of therapy, and 14.67% complete 4 years of therapy. Implementation of the Plan increased patient retention in treatment at the 3^rd year of treatment to 69.64% (p=0.031).

Conclusions. Only half of the patients receive the required three-year minimum of treatment.

The daily plan optimizes the patient management schedule for HDM ASIT; reduces patient dropout from treatment and can be recommended for practical healthcare.