PRS60 REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE OF PEANUT-ALLERGIC ADOLESCENTS IN THE UNITED STATES: HEALTH-RELATED CONCERNS AND RESOURCE UTILIZATION FOR PEANUT ALLERGY

Abstract

Patients with peanut allergy (PA) and their caregivers have reported substantial concerns about managing food allergies; however, there is limited evidence on the health-related concerns and resource utilization related to PA among adolescents in the United States (US). In 2018, a cross-sectional, online survey was conducted in the US that included the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) to measure expectations of allergy outcomes, items about PA-related resource utilization, and allergy management concerns. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Adolescents with PA (N=102), aged 13 to 17 years, completed the survey (mean age was 14.7 years; 55.9% male; 62.8% Caucasian); 93.1% had been prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector (EA), 87.8% carried it ≥75% of the time, and 100% actively avoided peanut products. Despite this, 35.3% still felt “not at all confident” to only “somewhat confident” managing PA reactions, and 44.1% felt “not at all in control” to only “somewhat in control” of PA. FAIM mean (SD) scores were as follows: Expectation of Outcomes scale (measures perceived risk of eating peanut, severe reaction, death, failing to deal with reaction) was 4.3 (1.4) (1=never, 7=always); Product Avoidance scale 4.6 (1.1) (1=almost none, 7=almost all); and, Social Impact scale 3.9 (1.5) (1=negligibly small, 7=extremely great). High rates of PA-related healthcare use in the previous 12 months were reported: PA-related hospitalization (34.3%); scheduled (84.4%) and unscheduled (55.0%) allergist visit; PA-related general practitioner visit (62.8%); ≥1 EA injection (58.8%); emergency department/urgent care visit (56.9%); and over-the-counter medication for PA (65.7%). Despite currently available PA management approaches, adolescents have substantial concerns regarding their health risks and frequently require various forms of healthcare to deal with PA reactions. There remains an unmet need for an approved treatment that safely provides certainty of protection to alleviate the constant fear of accidental exposure.