Comparison of AIT effectiveness and quality of life between groups
Before the pandemic, the median TSS-6, VAS-symptom, MS and VAS-QoL scores were similar in all groups (p>0.05 for each comparison). During the pandemic, the median TSS-6 and VAS-symptom scores were the highest in Group 3 compared to other groups (p<0.001 for each comparison) and these values were similar between Group 1 and Group 2 (p>0.05, p>0.05, respectively). The median MSs were similar in all groups during the pandemic (p>0.05). Median VAS-QoL scores were the lowest in Group 3 compared to others (p<0.001 for each comparison) and were lower in Group 2 than Group 1 (p=0.043) (Figure 1).
When the adherent and the non-adherent patients were compared, the median TSS-6, VAS-symptom, MS and VAS-QoL scores were similar before the pandemic (p>0.05 for each comparison). During the pandemic, the median TSS-6 and VAS-symptom scores were higher and the median VAS-QoL score was lower in the non-adherent patients than the adherent patients (p<0.001 for each comparison). However, the median MS was similar in both groups during the pandemic (p>0.05) (Figure 2).
Since the study period corresponds to the pollination period of common pollen allergens in our geographic region, the patients who received and those who did not receive pollen immunotherapy were compared in terms of short-term clinical outcomes of AIT. Changes in MS, VAS-symptom, VAS-QoL and TSS-6 scores between the pandemic and the pre-pandemic periods were similar among these patients (p>0.05 for each comparison).