Differences In Food Allergy Quality Of Life Between Caregivers In a Clinic-Based and a Caregiver-Reported Food Allergic Population

Abstract

RationaleFood allergy is associated with diminished caregiver quality of life (QoL), but little is known about differences in QoL between caregivers self-reporting a child with food allergy (CSRFA) and caregivers with children followed at a food allergy referral center clinic (FARC).MethodsAn internet survey containing the 17-question, validated FAQL-PB index and screening questions regarding the child’s most severe food reaction was administered to caregivers of milk, egg, peanut, or tree nut allergic children. CSRFA were recruited via the email/social media networks of The Kids with Food Allergies Foundation, and FARC caregivers from the University of Michigan Allergy and Immunology Clinics (who were given the option of a written survey).ResultsThere were 2003 CSRFA and 305 FARC respondents. FAQL-PB Cronbach’s-α for the population was 0.94 and the mean total QoL score was 2.67. Mean peanut QoL score was significantly higher (worse QoL) than tree nut (p<0.001) or milk (p=0.001), and egg score significantly higher than tree nut (p<0.001) or milk (p=0.001). Compared to CSRFA, FARC caregivers had significantly lower mean total QoL score (1.8 vs. 3.2, p<0.0001). Furthermore, FARC caregivers had significantly lower QoL scores for all allergens (mean difference range 0.89-1.32; peanut p<0.001, tree nut p<0.001, milk p=0.006, egg p=0.001) and all 17 individual FAQL-PB domains (mean difference range 0.51- 1.65; all p<0.0001) than CSRFA.ConclusionsCSRFA with milk, egg, peanut or tree nut allergic children may have significantly worse QoL compared to FARC caregivers. Large clinically and statistically significant differences were noted in the total, allergen-specific, and domain-specific QoL scores. RationaleFood allergy is associated with diminished caregiver quality of life (QoL), but little is known about differences in QoL between caregivers self-reporting a child with food allergy (CSRFA) and caregivers with children followed at a food allergy referral center clinic (FARC). Food allergy is associated with diminished caregiver quality of life (QoL), but little is known about differences in QoL between caregivers self-reporting a child with food allergy (CSRFA) and caregivers with children followed at a food allergy referral center clinic (FARC). MethodsAn internet survey containing the 17-question, validated FAQL-PB index and screening questions regarding the child’s most severe food reaction was administered to caregivers of milk, egg, peanut, or tree nut allergic children. CSRFA were recruited via the email/social media networks of The Kids with Food Allergies Foundation, and FARC caregivers from the University of Michigan Allergy and Immunology Clinics (who were given the option of a written survey). An internet survey containing the 17-question, validated FAQL-PB index and screening questions regarding the child’s most severe food reaction was administered to caregivers of milk, egg, peanut, or tree nut allergic children. CSRFA were recruited via the email/social media networks of The Kids with Food Allergies Foundation, and FARC caregivers from the University of Michigan Allergy and Immunology Clinics (who were given the option of a written survey). ResultsThere were 2003 CSRFA and 305 FARC respondents. FAQL-PB Cronbach’s-α for the population was 0.94 and the mean total QoL score was 2.67. Mean peanut QoL score was significantly higher (worse QoL) than tree nut (p<0.001) or milk (p=0.001), and egg score significantly higher than tree nut (p<0.001) or milk (p=0.001). Compared to CSRFA, FARC caregivers had significantly lower mean total QoL score (1.8 vs. 3.2, p<0.0001). Furthermore, FARC caregivers had significantly lower QoL scores for all allergens (mean difference range 0.89-1.32; peanut p<0.001, tree nut p<0.001, milk p=0.006, egg p=0.001) and all 17 individual FAQL-PB domains (mean difference range 0.51- 1.65; all p<0.0001) than CSRFA. There were 2003 CSRFA and 305 FARC respondents. FAQL-PB Cronbach’s-α for the population was 0.94 and the mean total QoL score was 2.67. Mean peanut QoL score was significantly higher (worse QoL) than tree nut (p<0.001) or milk (p=0.001), and egg score significantly higher than tree nut (p<0.001) or milk (p=0.001). Compared to CSRFA, FARC caregivers had significantly lower mean total QoL score (1.8 vs. 3.2, p<0.0001). Furthermore, FARC caregivers had significantly lower QoL scores for all allergens (mean difference range 0.89-1.32; peanut p<0.001, tree nut p<0.001, milk p=0.006, egg p=0.001) and all 17 individual FAQL-PB domains (mean difference range 0.51- 1.65; all p<0.0001) than CSRFA. ConclusionsCSRFA with milk, egg, peanut or tree nut allergic children may have significantly worse QoL compared to FARC caregivers. Large clinically and statistically significant differences were noted in the total, allergen-specific, and domain-specific QoL scores. CSRFA with milk, egg, peanut or tree nut allergic children may have significantly worse QoL compared to FARC caregivers. Large clinically and statistically significant differences were noted in the total, allergen-specific, and domain-specific QoL scores.