226 Analysis of an After-Care Questionnaire in Allergic People to Dust Mites Using Anti-Dust Mites Bed Covers

BACKGROUND: The goal of the study was to assess in a declarative way, the symptoms felt by the patients and the impact of micro-woven cotton (MWC) and a non woven polyester polyamide (NWP) anti-dust mites bed covers on allergic volunteers to dust mites. METHODS: This study is a descriptive survey based on an after-care questionnaire handed out to a group of 419 volunteers allergic to dust mites. 109 questionnaires have been used. Regarding the allergy, we asked questions in order to assess the most annoying symptoms. The discomfort level felt was assessed using scores that ranged from 0 (no discomfort) to 10 (severe discomfort). Values, expressed as mean ± SEM, were compared using 2-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The discomfort level felt by the allergic volunteers to dust mites has significantly decreased after the anti-dust mite's bed cover use (7.1 ± 0.2 versus 2.6 ± 0.2). After the anti-dust mites bed cover use, the discomfort level noticed decreased significantly and in a similar way no matter the age brackets. Thus, after the use of an anti-dust mites bed cover, it ranged between 2.1 and 2.3. The discomfort level felt after the anti-dust mites bed cover use was similar whatever the symptom. The reduction of the percentage of the discomfort level in volunteers having used MWC anti-dust mites bed covers was similar to the percentage of the volunteers having used NWP anti-dust mites bed covers (62.9 ± 3.1% vs. 60.7 ± 4.2%). CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, the use of anti-dust mites bed cover permits to significantly reduce the symptoms felt by allergic patients to dust mites. Moreover, it underlines the fact that the use of MWC anti-dust mite's bed cover or NWP anti-dust mites bed cover had a similar efficiency on the reduction of symptoms felt.