Efforts to reduce non-urgent hospital attendances during the COVID-19 pandemic have been the focus of much attention by healthcare professionals worldwide. In Ireland due to funding constraints omalizumab has only been available for hospital-based administration. Fifty-eight patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria and angioedema (CSU) receiving omalizumab in our centre were rapidly transitioned to home self-administration at the start of the pandemic. We conducted an anonymised patient survey after three months of home therapy with the aim of characterizing the patient experience throughout this period. 41 patients participated in our questionnaire (71% response rate). 93% of patients favoured self-injection of Omalizumab from home, with respondents citing cost savings, time savings, improved flexibility, fewer hospital visits and less risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection as particular benefits. Concerns regarding home administration including injecting incorrectly, forgetting a dose or having a reaction were reported very infrequently. 83% of patients wished to continue with home therapy long-term. This survey highlights broadly positive experiences for patients rapidly transitioning to home omalizumab administration. This data will be useful to inform healthcare funders in decisions regarding patient-centred care in CSU. Facilitating home omalizumab therapy in suitable CSU patients should be strongly considered in the post-pandemic setting.
Rapid transition to home omalizumab treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria during the COVID-19 pandemic: a patient perspective.