TABLE I.
Demographics of the study cohort of adult patients with chronic urticaria
| Characteristics | Total (%)* | Female (%)* | Male (%)* | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of patients† | 221 | 165 (74.7) | 56 (25.3) | <.01 |
| Mean age at the first clinic visit (y) (mean ± SD) | 42.8 ± 12.2 | 41.1 ± 11.9 | 47.7 ± 11.9 | <.01 |
| Caucasian race | 157 (83.5) | 115 (82.1) | 42 (87.5) | NS |
| Duration of CU before the first clinic visit (y) (mean ± SD) | 3.2 ± 6.9 | 3.1 ± 6.6 | 3.6 ± 7.7 | NS |
| Achieved control during any clinic visit (F: n = 165; M: n = 56) | 140 (63.4) | 101 (72.1) | 39 (69.6) | NS |
| Episodes lasting >48 h (F: n = 89; M: n = 36) | 70 (56) | 50 (56.2) | 20 (55.6) | NS |
| Associated angioedema (F: n = 149; M: n = 50) | 152 (76.4) | 111 (74.5) | 41 (82) | NS |
| Associated dermatographia (F: n = 119; M: n = 34) | 61 (39.9) | 56 (47.1) | 5 (14.7) | <.01 |
| Associated physical urticaria(s)‡ (F: n = 89; M: n = 34) | 120 (66.3) | 96 (70.1) | 24 (54.6) | .05 |
| History of smoking (F: n = 158; M: n = 53) | 58 (27.5) | 37 (23.4) | 21 (39.6) | .02 |
| History of thyroid disease§ (F: n = 158; M: n = 55) | 32 (15) | 27 (17.1) | 5 (9.1) | NS |
| History of autoimmune disease§ (F: n = 155; M: n = 54) | 25 (12) | 16 (10.3) | 9 (16.7) | NS |
| FHx of CU (F: n = 145; M: n = 49) | 32 (16.5) | 25 (17.2) | 7 (14.3) | NS |
| FHx of autoimmune disease (F: n = 138; M: n = 48) | 42 (22.6) | 33 (23.9) | 9 (18.8) | NS |
FHx, family history; NS, not significant at P = .05.
*
Percent represents total of the column or row.
†
Numbers represent the total number of male and female patients who reported this information.
‡
Other than dermatographia included cold (n = 12), delayed pressure (n = 2), pressure (n = 60), exercise (n = 33), cholinergic (n = 36), solar (n = 6), vibratory (n = 1), and aquagenic (n = 6).
§
Based on the patient report; autoimmune disease included the report of endocrine, rheumatologic or hematologic disorders.