Abstract
Background. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) has become standard of care for children with food allergy (FA). Data in adults, particularly effects of OIT on their quality of life, however, is limited.
Methods. Patients with food allergy aged ≥18 years who underwent OIT at Shamir Medical Center completed the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) before and at the end of treatment. Adults with FA not undergoing OIT who completed the FAQLQ-AF at 2 time points, served as controls.
Results. A total of 44 adults, median age 23.4 years, who underwent OIT for milk (n=19), egg (n=2), peanut (n=9), sesame (n=6), and tree nuts (n=8), and 11 controls were studied. The median OIT starting dose was 23.8mg protein. 33 patients (75%) reached full desensitization within a median of 10.3 months. The FAQLQ-AF baseline scores were comparable between the study and control groups for all items except for Food Allergy related Health (FAH) item in which the study group had a significantly better score (p=0.02). At the second time point, the study group had significantly better scores in all items (Allergen Avoidance and Dietary Restrictions (AADR), p=0.02; and Emotional Impact (EI), Risk of Allergen Exposure (RAE), FAH and the Total Score, p<0.01). The change in scores for the study group was significantly better, statistically and clinically, in AADR, p=0.04; EI, p<0.01; RAE, p=0.01, and the total score, p=0.01.
Conclusions. OIT significantly improves quality of life of adults with FA. This finding adds important support for providing OIT in this population.