Table 1 Summary of articles and patient characteristics

Publication year, range

(2005 to 2013)

Multicenter vs. monocenter

4 (50%) vs. 4 (50%)

Allergen used (pollen vs. house dust mites)

6 (75%) vs. 2 (25%)

Treatment duration, range (months)

(12 to 24)

Duration of symptoms and medication evaluation period, range (months)

(1 to 12)

Total score in Jadad methodology scale, range

(2 to 5)

Number of patients per study, range

45 to 269

Total number of patients in active group, n (%)

591 (64.6%)

Placebo group, n (%)

324 (35.4%)

Patient’ s age, mean (range), years

32 (7 to 69)

PDCO groups of age in included studies

Children and adolescents included, n (%)

2 (25%)

Adolescents included, n (%)

4 (50%)

Only adults included, n (%)

2 (25%)

Rhinoconjunctivitis severity in included studies

Any severity included, n (%)

4 (50%)

Only moderate to severe, n (%)

4 (50%)

Asthma severity in included studies

Only include intermittent asthma, n (%)

3 (37.5%)

Intermittent to mild persistent included, n (%)

3 (37.5%)

Intermittent to moderate persistent included, n (%)

2 (25%)

% pts not included in per protocol set: active group

(5% to 24%)

Placebo group

(5% to 25%)

Studies with HRQL evaluated with RQLQ

Yes* (692 patients)

4 (50%)

No**

4 (50%)