Oral food challenge and food allergy quality of life in caregivers of children with food allergy

Timothy J Franxman; Laura Howe; Esther Teich; Matthew J Greenhawt

doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2014.06.016

Oral food challenge and food allergy quality of life in caregivers of children with food allergy

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2015 Jan-Feb;3(1):50-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2014.06.016. Epub 2014 Aug 29.

Authors

Timothy J Franxman¹, Laura Howe², Esther Teich², Matthew J Greenhawt³

Affiliations

¹ The University of Michigan Food Allergy Center and the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich; Family Allergy and Asthma, Florence, Ky.
² The University of Michigan Food Allergy Center and the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich.
³ The University of Michigan Food Allergy Center and the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Michigan Health System, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich; Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Mich. Electronic address: mgreenha@med.umich.edu.

Abstract

Background: Food allergy is associated with diminished patient and caregiver quality of life (QoL). Although oral food challenge (OFC) improves QoL of individuals with food allergy, its effects on caregiver QoL are unknown.

Objectives: To determine if differences in caregiver QoL exist based on their child undergoing OFC.

Methods: Caregivers of individuals with food allergy who underwent OFCs between 2001 and 2012 at the University of Michigan Food Allergy Center completed the Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden index and a questionnaire that assessed details of the most-severe reaction by an individual with food allergy. Results were compared with 305 caregivers of individuals with food allergy who were unchallenged. All questionnaire data regarding the characteristics of the reactions of individuals with food allergy were verified through chart review.

Results: A total of 115 caregivers of individuals with food allergy who were undergoing OFC completed the QoL assessment. Caregivers of individuals with food allergy who were undergoing OFC had a significantly lower (better) QoL score than controls who were not challenged (1.5 vs 1.88; P = .02). Furthermore, within the challenged cohort, there was no significant difference in QoL score between those with a passing OFC (eg, non-reactive) and a failing OFC (eg, reactive) (1.42 vs 1.34; P = .83). In an adjusted linear regression model, the QoL score was significantly better among caregivers of individuals with food allergy who were undergoing OFC and with an income >$50,000 but significantly worsened for caregivers with multiple individuals with food allergy or if the individual with food allergy had atopic dermatitis.

Conclusion: The caregiver QoL score is better with individuals with food allergy who underwent OFC versus controls who were unchallenged but not significantly different based on OFC outcome. QoL is, in addition, moderated by income, the presence of atopic dermatitis, and having multiple individuals with food allergy. OFC is associated with better caregiver QoL, irrespective of challenge outcome.

Keywords: Caregivers; Food allergy; Health services research; Oral food challenge; Quality of life.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Caregivers / psychology*
Caregivers / statistics & numerical data
Child
Female
Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
Food Hypersensitivity / psychology*
Humans
Male
Quality of Life / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding