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Parental perception of their child's quality of life in children with non‐immunoglobulin‐E‐mediated gastrointestinal allergies
Author(s) -
Foong R. X.,
Meyer R.,
Godwin H.,
Dziubak R.,
Lozinsky A. C.,
Reeve K.,
Knibb R.,
Shah N.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/pai.12689
Subject(s) - medicine , cohort , allergy , quality of life (healthcare) , food allergy , immunoglobulin e , cohort study , nasal congestion , pediatrics , atopy , elimination diet , immunology , surgery , antibody , nose , nursing
Background Food allergy can have a significant impact on health‐related quality of life ( HRQ oL). Parental proxy questionnaires are commonly used when children are too young to complete questionnaires themselves. Little data are available on HRQ oL in children with non‐IgE‐mediated gastrointestinal food allergy ( GIFA ). The aim of this study was to evaluate HRQ oL in these children by parent proxy. Methods A cross‐sectional questionnaire study was conducted with children aged 2–16 years with confirmed GIFA . Parents of these children completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds QL ™ ) and the family impact module of the Peds QL . The Peds QL scores were compared to two published cohorts: functional abdominal pain ( FAP ) and IgE‐mediated food allergy. Results Fifty‐two parents of children with GIFA completed the Peds QL ™ parent proxy. The GIFA cohort had significantly better overall HRQ oL compared with the FAP cohort, but lower emotional functioning scores. The GIFA cohort also had poorer physical QoL compared with the IgE cohort (all p < 0.05). The more foods excluded, comorbidity of nasal congestion, abdominal pain, back arching, the persistence of flatus and gastrointestinal symptom severity after elimination diet were related to poorer QoL in this non‐IgE cohort. Regression analyses showed that number of foods and nasal congestion significantly predicted total QoL score as perceived by parents. Conclusions This study has shown that different areas of HRQ oL of children with GIFA are affected compared with children with FAP or IgE‐mediated food allergy, highlighting the need for a specific GIFA HRQ oL questionnaire to better understand the impact on these children.