Impact of IgE-mediated Food Allergy on Parental Quality of Life in Iranian Patients

Abstract

Food allergy is a common disorder especially in the first years of life. Strict avoidance of the responsible food is the most effective therapeutic measure so far. But this continuous vigilance could be stressful for the patient and family and decreases their quality of life (QOL). This survey was designed to evaluate the impact of IgE-mediated food allergy on parental QOL in Iranian patients and to develop a valid Persian version of "Food Allergy Quality Of Life- Parental Burden (FAQL-PB) questionnaire". 90 patients (28 females, 62 males) and their parents who were referred to the clinic of Allergy in Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran were enrolled. The questionnaire was translated with scientific method and its reliability was approved in a pilot study (ICC=0.75, cronbach-α=0.90). Among all patients the most common allergens were wheat (60%) and cow's milk (42%). The patient's age (p=0.02), parent's gender (p=0.004), mother's age (p=0.02), duration of the disease (p=0.048), and allergen multiplicity (p=0.004) were found to have the most significant correlation with family and social activity (FSA) domain. The most meaningful associations were achieved between parent's gender (p<0.001) and emotional issues (EM); as well as meal preparation (MP) with patient's age (p=0.02), parent's gender (p<0.0001) and also allergen multiplicity (p= 0.003); likewise nutrition and health concern (NH) domain with parent's gender (p<0.001). Anaphylaxis's history did not place any burden on each domain. It was concluded that presence of food allergic patients in families could considerably affect all domains of QOL.

Keywords: Food allergy; Food hypersensitivity; Iran; Quality of life; Questionnaire.