Quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis: a clinical trial comparing the use of bilastine versus loratadine.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences in health-related quality of life of patients with allergic rhinitis treated with bilastine 20 mg compared to those treated with loratadine 10 mg.

DESIGN: This was a prospective randomised double-blinded study.

SETTING: Otolaryngology outpatient clinics in Criciúma, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three patients, aged between 18 and 63 years, of whom 36 were treated with loratadine 10 mg and 37 with bilastine 20 mg with medication administered once a day for 10 days.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome was quality of life as assessed by the modified Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQm), which was applied at baseline and after 10 days of treatment.

RESULTS: The use of bilastine 20 mg or loratadine 10 mg significantly reduced RQLQm scores after 10 days of treatment (P < 0.001); however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatment groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Health-related quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis improved significantly after 10 days of treatment with loratadine and bilastine, and the effectiveness of both was equivalent.