Abstract

Background: Urticaria is associated with considerable health-care costs. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered as the gold standard for evaluating efficacy in clinical research.

Aims and Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze RCTs in the therapeutic area of urticaria from 2009 to 2019.

Materials and Methods: Systematic search of “PubMed” was performed using words “Study[ti] OR trial[ti] AND urticaria[ti] AND “2009” [Date – Publication]: “2019” [Date – Publication].” All retrieving articles were screened for understanding the study design. RCTs were considered for further analysis. Year-wise and indication-wise analysis of RCTs was performed.

Results: Of 189 articles retrieved, nine articles did not satisfy the inclusion criteria. Of 180 articles, 6 (3.3%) articles were published in 2009. In subsequent years (2010–2019), the number (%) of articles published was 8 (4.4%), 9 (5%), 10 (5.6%), 12 (6.7%), 14 (7.8%) 15 (8.3%), 15 (8.3%), 20 (11.1%), 32 (17.8%), and 39 (21.7%), respectively. A total of 47 (26.11%) were RCTs. The number (%) of RCTs from 2009 to 2019 was 2 (4.26%), 3 (6.38%), 2 (4.26%), 3 (6.38%), 4 (8.51%), 5 (10.64%), 3 (6.38%), 4 (8.51%), 6 (12.77%), 7 (14.89%), and 8 (17.01%), respectively. A total of 31 (65.96%) RCTs were related to chronic spontaneous urticaria/chronic idiopathic urticaria (CSU/CIU).

Conclusion: Analysis of articles showed that the numbers of RCTs related to urticaria are increasing over the years. CSU/CIU is the most commonly researched topic in urticaria through RCTs.

Key words: Randomized Controlled Trials; Urticaria; Research