Influence of nut and peanut allergy on the quality of life of adults

Background Health-related quality of life is negatively affected in patients with food allergies. Aim Analysis of health-related quality of life of adults allergic to tree nuts or peanuts. Methods Health-related quality of life was analysed via the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) and the Short Form 12 (SF12) questionnaire. In addition, a diagnostic workup including a detailed patient history, skin prick test and analysis of specific IgE was performed. An oral food challenge was offered to all patients. Results Food allergic patients (n = 63) reported an average burden of 3.91 +/- 1.41 points on the FAQLQ-AF and 3.31 +/- 1.03 points on the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM), a measure for the perceived disease severity. A higher mean FAIM score was the most important predictor of higher results (worse quality of life) in the FAQLQ-AF. The SF12 questionnaire was not able to discriminate between food allergic patients and healthy controls (n = 16). Conclusion A tree nut and/or peanut allergy was perceived as an impairment of health-related quality of life, which is directly associated with the perceived severity of disease. Disease-specific quality of life questionnaires can capture the burden associated with peanuts or tree nuts allergies.