The Reality of Living with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a serious condition that affects approximately 1.7 million people in the United States and is characterized by itchy hives, deep tissue swelling (angioedema), or both for more than 6 weeks.1,2,3 As an immune-related condition, CSU is driven by mast cells and other internal mechanisms rather than external factors such as triggers, which can make diagnosis and treatment challenging.4,5,6
Currently, antihistamines are the first-line treatment in CSU.1 However, approximately 50% of people do not achieve complete control of their symptoms, which means that they continue to live with the distressing symptoms of the condition.1
The Impact of CSU
While patients are affected in different ways, the symptoms associated with CSU can have a significant impact on daily life.7 According to one survey, approximately 70% of CSU patients reported mild to severe anxiety and depression. In another patient-reported survey, one out of five people with CSU reported missing at least one hour of work in the past seven days.6,8