Quality of life in families with peanut/egg/hazelnut allergy

Quality of life in families with peanut/egg/hazelnut allergy

Anette Stensgaard, Audrey DunnGalvin, Dorthe Nielsen, Carsten Bindslev-Jensen (Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, ORCA (Odense Research Centre for Anaphylaxis), Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark)

Aim: International research shows that Food Allergy has an impact on the quality of life for the affected child, adolescent and even in adulthood – as well for the parents. The aim of this study is to gain more knowledge on quality of life for Danish patients diagnosed with peanut, egg or/and hazelnut allergy and for their family members.

Methods: The cohort comprises an existing database with 394 Danish children, teenagers and adults diagnosed with peanut/egg/hazelnut allergy in accordance with EAACI guidelines.
We use the validated Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQ). The questionnaires have been translated from English to Danish in accordance to World Health Organisation´s criteria and are web-based. The questionnaire form varies according to patient’s age group: Parent Form 0 – 7 years (N=123), Child Form 8 – 12 years (n=138), Teenager Form 13 – 17 years (n=80), Adult Form 18 years and up (N=53). The siblings receive an age-adjusted questionnaire. The parents to children from 8 years and above also receive a Parent Form. Mothers and fathers receive separate questionnaires.
The patients and their relatives are invited by letter with a link to the homepage www.datafabrikken.dk and a code for each family member to access their specific questionnaires’.

Results: Our preliminary results show that food allergy has an impact on the Quality of life of the child/ adolescent/adult but also the family members are affected. Furthermore, there are differences in the answers from mothers and fathers to the same child.
The final results of how food allergy impacts the quality of life will be seen in the context of the socio-economic position. Focus will also be on a possible relationship between Quality of life and the clinical sensitivity of the patient (threshold, i.e. the amount of peanut/egg/hazelnut protein causing a clinical reaction). Furthermore, a possible impact of the number of anaphylactic episodes requiring treatment in the Emergency Room will be investigated.

Conclusion: The result of the study will give an indication of the needs that the food allergic child entering adolescence has for help, guidance and support. Focus can be directed to how food allergy affects everyday life. It may also increase awareness in their respective social networks such as kindergarten, school and in the working environment. The results will also provide knowledge to health professionals improving communication and guidance for patients and parents in the clinic.