Health-related quality of life in food-allergic adults from eight European countries

Nicole J Goossens; Bertine M J Flokstra-de Blok; Gerbrich N van der Meulen; Marianne H Arnlind; Ricardo Asero; Laura Barreales; Peter Burney; Imnaculada Cerecedo; Michael Clausen; Monteserrat Fernandéz-Rivas; Lynn Frewer; Belén de la Hoz Caballer; Sven-Arne Jansson; Monica Jedrzejczak-Czechowicz; André C Knulst; Marek L Kowalski; Nikos G Papadopoulos; Ashok Purohit; Ewa Rokicka; Pawel Starosta; Sonia Vásquez-Cortés; Eric J Duiverman; Anthony E J Dubois

doi:10.1016/j.anai.2014.04.004

Health-related quality of life in food-allergic adults from eight European countries

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Jul;113(1):63-68.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2014.04.004. Epub 2014 May 1.

Authors

Nicole J Goossens¹, Bertine M J Flokstra-de Blok², Gerbrich N van der Meulen³, Marianne H Arnlind⁴, Ricardo Asero⁵, Laura Barreales⁶, Peter Burney⁷, Imnaculada Cerecedo⁸, Michael Clausen⁹, Monteserrat Fernandéz-Rivas¹⁰, Lynn Frewer¹¹, Belén de la Hoz Caballer¹², Sven-Arne Jansson⁴, Monica Jedrzejczak-Czechowicz¹³, André C Knulst¹⁴, Marek L Kowalski¹³, Nikos G Papadopoulos¹⁵, Ashok Purohit¹⁶, Ewa Rokicka¹⁷, Pawel Starosta¹⁷, Sonia Vásquez-Cortés¹⁰, Eric J Duiverman¹⁸, Anthony E J Dubois¹⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: n.j.goossens@umcg.nl.
² GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of General Practice, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Pediatric Allergy, Martini Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Centre for Allergy Research and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
⁵ Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Clinica San Carlo, Paderno Dugnano, Italy.
⁶ Department of Preventive Medicine, Research Unit, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain.
⁷ Department of Respiratory Epidemiology and Public Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
⁸ Sección de Alergología, Hospital Universitario del Sureste, Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain.
⁹ Department of Allergy, Landspitali, University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland.
¹⁰ Allergy Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain.
¹¹ Food Safety and Consumer Behaviour, Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen, The Netherlands; CRE, SAFRD, Newcastle University, Newcastle, United Kingdom.
¹² Department of Allergy, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
¹³ Department of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
¹⁴ Department of Dermatology/Allergology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
¹⁵ Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
¹⁶ Division of Allergy, Department of Chest Diseases, University Hospitals, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
¹⁷ Faculty of Economics and Sociology, Lodz University, Poland.
¹⁸ Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergy, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 24795291
DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2014.04.004

Abstract

Background: Food allergy can impair health-related quality of life (HRQL). Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQs) have been developed and validated, including an adult form (FAQLQ-AF). HRQL has not, to date, been measured across different European countries using a uniform methodology.

Objective: To translate and validate the FAQLQ-AF for use in 8 European countries (Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Sweden).

Methods: The English FAQLQ-AF was translated, back-translated, and compared for use in the 8 relevant European languages. Adults with a perceived food allergy were recruited from outpatient departments and through a community survey. Participants completed the FAQLQ-AF, the Food Allergy Independent Measure, and questions concerning participants' characteristics. Validity of the FAQLQ-AF was analyzed for use in the 8 countries.

Results: The FAQLQ-AF had strong construct validity (r > 0.59) and an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach α > 0.95) in all countries. Total FAQLQ-AF scores (range 3.2-5.0) were significantly different across participating countries.

Conclusion: The FAQLQ-AF is a suitable and valid instrument for measuring HRQL in food-allergic adults in Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, and Sweden. The impact of food allergy on HRQL seems to differ among adults from the 8 participating European countries.

Publication types

Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

Adult
Europe
Female
Food Hypersensitivity / immunology
Food Hypersensitivity / pathology
Food Hypersensitivity / psychology*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires / standards