Health-related quality of life worsens by school age amongst children with food allergy

• 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 hens 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 amp;lt; 0.04.). Similarly, multiple food allergies, and severe symptoms were significantly associated with worse HRQL (all p amp;lt; 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.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Annan hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Other Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Children; Food allergy; Food hypersensitivity; Health-related quality of life

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