Veronika Höfer1, Sabine Dölle-Bierke2, Rabea Reinert2, Margitta Worm2. 1. Allergologie und Immunologie, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland. veronika.hoefer@charite.de. 2. Allergologie und Immunologie, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life is negatively affected in patients with food allergies. AIM: Analysis of health-related quality of life of adults allergic to tree nuts or peanuts. METHODS: Health-related quality of life was analysed via the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) and the Short Form 12 (SF12) questionnaire. In addition, a diagnostic workup including a detailed patient history, skin prick test and analysis of specific IgE was performed. An oral food challenge was offered to all patients. RESULTS: Food allergic patients (n = 63) reported an average burden of 3.91 ± 1.41 points on the FAQLQ-AF and 3.31 ± 1.03 points on the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM), a measure for the perceived disease severity. A higher mean FAIM score was the most important predictor of higher results (worse quality of life) in the FAQLQ-AF. The SF12 questionnaire was not able to discriminate between food allergic patients and healthy controls (n = 16). CONCLUSION: A tree nut and/or peanut allergy was perceived as an impairment of health-related quality of life, which is directly associated with the perceived severity of disease. Disease-specific quality of life questionnaires can capture the burden associated with peanuts or tree nuts allergies.
BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life is negatively affected in patients with food allergies. AIM: Analysis of health-related quality of life of adults allergic to tree nuts or peanuts. METHODS: Health-related quality of life was analysed via the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) and the Short Form 12 (SF12) questionnaire. In addition, a diagnostic workup including a detailed patient history, skin prick test and analysis of specific IgE was performed. An oral food challenge was offered to all patients. RESULTS: Food allergic patients (n = 63) reported an average burden of 3.91 ± 1.41 points on the FAQLQ-AF and 3.31 ± 1.03 points on the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM), a measure for the perceived disease severity. A higher mean FAIM score was the most important predictor of higher results (worse quality of life) in the FAQLQ-AF. The SF12 questionnaire was not able to discriminate between food allergic patients and healthy controls (n = 16). CONCLUSION: A tree nut and/or peanut allergy was perceived as an impairment of health-related quality of life, which is directly associated with the perceived severity of disease. Disease-specific quality of life questionnaires can capture the burden associated with peanuts or tree nuts allergies.
Authors: D Antolin-Amerigo; A Muriel; M Fernández-Rivas; M Diéguez Pastor; B Flokstra-de Blok; A Dubois; B De la Hoz Caballer Journal: J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol Date: 2015 Impact factor: 4.333