Health-related quality of life worsens by school age amongst children with food allergy
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Date
2019-02-07
Authors
Thörnqvist, Victoria
Middelveld, Roelinde
Wai, Hay M
Ballardini, Natalia
Nilsson, Evalill
Strömquist, Jennie
Ahlstedt, Staffan
Nilsson, Lennart J
Protudjer, Jennifer L P
Journal Title
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Abstract
Abstract
Background
Food allergy is negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQL). Although differences exist between parents and children, less is known about age-specific differences amongst children. As such, we aimed to identify if age, as well as other factors, are associated with food allergy-specific HRQL in an objectively defined population of children.
Methods
Overall, 63 children (boys: n = 36; 57.1%) with specialist-diagnosed food allergy to 1 + foods were included. Parents/guardians completed the Swedish version of a disease-specific questionnaire designed to assess overall- and domain-specific HRQL. Descriptive statistics and linear regression were used.
Results
The most common food allergy was hen’s egg (n = 40/63; 63.5%). Most children had more than one food allergy (n = 48; 76.2%). Nearly all had experienced mild symptoms (e.g. skin; n = 56/63; 94.9%), and more than half had severe symptoms (e.g. respiratory; 39/63; 66.1%). Compared to young children (0–5 years), older children (6–12 years) had worse HRQL (e.g. overall HRQL: B = 0.60; 95% CI 0.05–1.16; p < 0.04.). Similarly, multiple food allergies, and severe symptoms were significantly associated with worse HRQL (all p < 0.05) even in models adjusted for concomitant allergic disease. No associations were found for gender or socioeconomic status.
Conclusion
Older children and those with severe food allergy have worse HRQL.
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Citation
Clinical and Translational Allergy. 2019 Feb 07;9(1):10