Jennifer L P Protudjer1, Sven-Arne Jansson2, Marianne Heibert Arnlind3, Ulf Bengtsson4, Ingrid Kallström-Bengtsson5, Birgitta Marklund6, Roelinde Middelveld7, Georgios Rentzos4, Ann-Charlotte Sundqvist8, Johanna Åkerström4, Eva Östblom9, Sven-Erik Dahlén7, Staffan Ahlstedt10. 1. The Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; The Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. The Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. 3. Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment, SBU, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, and Medical Management Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Allergy Unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. 5. The Swedish Asthma and Allergy Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden. 7. The Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; The Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 8. Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 9. Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Research and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 10. The Centre for Allergy Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: staffan.ahlstedt@ki.se.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We previously reported that indirect and intangible costs burden households with a food allergic adult. We now extend our investigation to households with food allergic children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate direct, indirect, and intangible costs of food allergy in households with a child and/or adolescent with objectively diagnosed allergy to staple foods (cow's milk, hen's egg, and/or wheat), and to compare these costs with age- and sex-matched controls. METHODS: Direct and indirect cost parent-reported data collected via the Food Allergy Socio-Economic Questionnaire of 84 children (0-12 years) and 60 adolescents (13-17 years) with objectively diagnosed allergy to staple foods ("cases") and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 94 children; n = 56 adolescents) were compared. Annual household costs were calculated. Total household costs included direct plus indirect costs. Intangible costs included parent-reported health of their child and/or adolescent, standard of living, and perceptions of well-being. RESULTS: Amongst cases, total household costs were higher by €3961 for children and €4792 for adolescents versus controls (P < .05), and were driven by direct (eg, medications) and indirect (eg, time with health care professionals) costs. For children only, a history of anaphylaxis was associated with higher direct costs than no anaphylaxis (€13,016 vs €10,044, P < .05). Intangible costs (eg, parent-reported health of a child and/or adolescent) were significantly impacted amongst cases versus controls (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Households with a child and/or adolescent with objectively diagnosed allergy to staple foods have higher total household costs than controls. Direct and indirect costs were significantly higher for cases versus controls amongst children only. Amongst both age groups, such allergy adversely impacted intangible costs.
BACKGROUND: We previously reported that indirect and intangible costs burden households with a food allergic adult. We now extend our investigation to households with food allergicchildren and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate direct, indirect, and intangible costs of food allergy in households with a child and/or adolescent with objectively diagnosed allergy to staple foods (cow's milk, hen's egg, and/or wheat), and to compare these costs with age- and sex-matched controls. METHODS: Direct and indirect cost parent-reported data collected via the Food Allergy Socio-Economic Questionnaire of 84 children (0-12 years) and 60 adolescents (13-17 years) with objectively diagnosed allergy to staple foods ("cases") and age- and sex-matched controls (n = 94 children; n = 56 adolescents) were compared. Annual household costs were calculated. Total household costs included direct plus indirect costs. Intangible costs included parent-reported health of their child and/or adolescent, standard of living, and perceptions of well-being. RESULTS: Amongst cases, total household costs were higher by €3961 for children and €4792 for adolescents versus controls (P < .05), and were driven by direct (eg, medications) and indirect (eg, time with health care professionals) costs. For children only, a history of anaphylaxis was associated with higher direct costs than no anaphylaxis (€13,016 vs €10,044, P < .05). Intangible costs (eg, parent-reported health of a child and/or adolescent) were significantly impacted amongst cases versus controls (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Households with a child and/or adolescent with objectively diagnosed allergy to staple foods have higher total household costs than controls. Direct and indirect costs were significantly higher for cases versus controls amongst children only. Amongst both age groups, such allergy adversely impacted intangible costs.
Authors: Shannon E Majowicz; Samantha B Meyer; Sharon I Kirkpatrick; Julianne L Graham; Arshi Shaikh; Susan J Elliott; Leia M Minaker; Steffanie Scott; Brian Laird Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2016-06-08 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Jennifer L P Protudjer; Mirja Vetander; Inger Kull; Gunilla Hedlin; Marianne van Hage; Magnus Wickman; Anna Bergström Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-11-15 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jennifer L P Protudjer; Ola Olén; Mirja Vetander; Inger Kull; Erik Melén; Marianne van Hage; Magnus Wickman; Anna Bergström Journal: Nutrients Date: 2018-05-21 Impact factor: 5.717
Authors: Hay Mar Wai; Roelinde Middelveld; Victoria Thörnqvist; Natalia Ballardini; Evalill Nilsson; Jennie Strömquist; Lennart Nilsson; Staffan Ahlstedt; Jennifer Lisa Penner Protudjer Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2019-10-04 Impact factor: 4.084
Authors: F Estelle R Simons; Motohiro Ebisawa; Mario Sanchez-Borges; Bernard Y Thong; Margitta Worm; Luciana Kase Tanno; Richard F Lockey; Yehia M El-Gamal; Simon Ga Brown; Hae-Sim Park; Aziz Sheikh Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2015-10-28 Impact factor: 4.084
Authors: Elissa M Abrams; Elinor Simons; Jennifer Gerdts; Orla Nazarko; Beatrice Povolo; Jennifer L P Protudjer Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-08-01 Impact factor: 3.295