The psychological burden of peanut allergy as perceived by adults with peanut allergy and the parents of peanut-allergic children

Impact of Early-Life Microbiota on Immune System Development and Allergic Disorders

Introduction: The shaping of the human intestinal microbiota starts during the intrauterine period and continues through the subsequent stages of extrauterine life. The microbiota plays a significant role in the predisposition and development of immune diseases, as well as various inflammatory processes. Importantly, the proper colonization of the fetal digestive system is influenced by maternal microbiota, the method of pregnancy completion and the further formation of the microbiota. In the subsequent stages of a child's life, breastfeeding, diet and the use of antibiotics influence the state of eubiosis, which determines proper growth and development from the neonatal period to adulthood. The literature data suggest that there is evidence to confirm that the intestinal microbiota of the infant plays an important role in regulating the immune response associated with the development of allergic diseases. However, the identification of specific bacterial species in relation to specific types of reactions in allergic diseases is the basic problem. Background: The main aim of the review was to demonstrate the influence of the microbiota of the mother, fetus and newborn on the functioning of the immune system in the context of allergies and asthma. Methods: We reviewed and thoroughly analyzed the content of over 1000 articles and abstracts between the beginning of June and the end of August 2024. Over 150 articles were selected for the detailed study. Results: The selection was based on the PubMed National Library of Medicine search engine, using selected keywords: "the impact of intestinal microbiota on the development of immune diseases and asthma", "intestinal microbiota and allergic diseases", "the impact of intrauterine microbiota on the development of asthma", "intrauterine microbiota and immune diseases", "intrauterine microbiota and atopic dermatitis", "intrauterine microbiota and food allergies", "maternal microbiota", "fetal microbiota" and "neonatal microbiota". The above relationships constituted the main criteria for including articles in the analysis. Conclusions: In the present review, we showed a relationship between the proper maternal microbiota and the normal functioning of the fetal and neonatal immune system. The state of eubiosis with an adequate amount and diversity of microbiota is essential in preventing the development of immune and allergic diseases. The way the microbiota is shaped, resulting from the health-promoting behavior of pregnant women, the rational conduct of the medical staff and the proper performance of the diagnostic and therapeutic process, is necessary to maintain the health of the mother and the child. Therefore, an appropriate lifestyle, rational antibiotic therapy as well as the way of completing the pregnancy are indispensable in the prevention of the above conditions. At the same time, considering the intestinal microbiota of the newborn in relation to the genera and phyla of bacteria that have a potentially protective effect, it is worth noting that the use of suitable probiotics and prebiotics seems to contribute to the protective effect.

Food Allergy, Nutrition, Psychology, and Health

This article explores food allergy and the nascent field of nutritional psychiatry. Individuals with food allergy experience lower levels of "food freedom" than their nonallergic counterparts, which can create cognitive, emotional, social, nutritional, and financial burdens. Patterns of food avoidance may influence neuroinflammatory states and the gut microbiome; these changes may be associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Food restriction may promote disruption of the microbiome neuroimmune axis, which has been linked to various allergic diseases. Targeted psychological counseling strategies can provide benefit. Food allergy and restricted diets may impact dietary health benefits.

Allergic Diseases and Mental Health

Neuropsychiatric symptoms have long been acknowledged as a common comorbidity for individuals with allergic diseases. The proposed mechanisms for this relationship vary by disease and patient population and may include neuroinflammation and/or the consequent social implications of disease symptoms and management. We review connections between mental health and allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, vocal cord dysfunction, urticaria, and food allergy. Many uncertainties remain and warrant further research, particularly with regard to how medications interact with pathophysiologic mechanisms of allergic disease in the neuroimmune axis. Proactive screening for mental health challenges, using tools such as the Patient Health Questionnaire and Generalized Anxiety Disorder screening instruments among others, can aid clinicians in identifying patients who may need further psychiatric evaluation and support. Although convenient, symptom screening tools are limited by variable sensitivity and specificity and therefore require healthcare professionals to remain vigilant for other mental health "red flags." Ultimately, understanding the connection between allergic disease and mental health empowers clinicians to both anticipate and serve the diverse physical and mental health needs of their patient populations.

Safety and efficacy of epicutaneous immunotherapy with DBV712 (peanut patch) in peanut allergy

INTRODUCTION

DBV712 250 µg (also referred to as Viaskin Peanut or peanut patch; Viaskin is a trademark of DBV Technologies) is an innovative approach to epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT). The patch-based technology system facilitates peanut protein (allergen) absorption into the intact non-vascularized epidermis to promote desensitization to peanut while limiting systemic allergen exposure.

AREAS COVERED

Efficacy and safety in children have been evaluated in four completed phase 3 studies. Overall, the results from these studies have demonstrated the peanut patch to be superior in desensitization compared with placebo and safe for daily use over multiple years.

EXPERT OPINION

These findings, as well as supportive evidence from phase 2 studies, confirm the potential for an effective treatment of peanut allergy in children. The purpose of this review is to summarize the safety and efficacy of the peanut patch in the treatment of peanut allergy.

Perspectives in the validation of DEFASE: a paradigm shift in food allergy management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To explore the groundbreaking international consensus on the DEFASE (DEfinition of Food Allergy Severity) project as a revolutionary grading system for IgE-mediated food allergy severity. Against the backdrop of the growing public health challenge posed by food allergy, this article delves into the importance of validating and implementing DEFASE in real-world clinical settings.

RECENT FINDINGS

With new therapeutic options available for food allergy, including biologics alongside immunotherapy, it is urgent to properly support clinical decision-making in the management of the disease. The DEFASE score is the first international consensus-based grading system of severity associated with food allergy as a whole disease embracing multidisciplinary perspectives from different stakeholders involved. In its current version, this comprehensive scoring system has been developed to be used in research settings.

SUMMARY

The review emphasizes the potential impact of DEFASE on patient outcomes, healthcare management, and resource allocation, underscoring its significance for the allergy scientific community. Future research should focus on internal and external validation of the scoring system, targeting these models to various food allergenic sources, populations, and settings.

Comprehensive Care and Education Can Improve Nutritional and Growth Outcomes in Children with Persistent Cow's Milk, Egg, or Peanut Allergies: A Five-Year Follow-Up Study of Nutritional Status

BACKGROUND

Data suggest that food allergies greatly impact a child's health and growth due to inadequate nutrient intake. Our study aimed to establish the long-term outcome of children with food allergies compared to a control group.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up with a mean period of 4.85 years from the diagnosis to the last study visit. The patients' nutritional intake was assessed using a three-day food diary and analysed by a dietitian. Patients (61 boys and 33 girls, mean age 6.9 years) had a single food allergy including 21 patients with cow's milk, 34 with egg, and 39 with peanut allergies. The control group included 36 children (19 boys and 17 girls, mean age 8.03 years). Blood analysis was performed on all participants.

RESULTS

Data from our study showed that patients with cow's milk, egg or peanut allergies had normal growth and achieved catch-up growth from the diagnosis until the last study visit. In the cow's milk allergy group, the allergy was shown to affect calcium intake (p < 0.05), while egg and peanut allergies did not impact the dietary intake of nutrients. None of the investigated food allergies affected blood results (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we showed that single food allergies do not compromise growth in children if they are provided with appropriate support and that the affected children reach catch-up growth from the diagnosis.

Food Immunotherapy: Dissecting Current Guidelines and Navigating the Gray Zone

Food allergy is a common, chronic disease that is burdensome for patients and families, with multiple dietary and social limitations and a significant psychological impact stemming from the fear of accidental exposures and potentially severe, life-threatening reactions. Until recently, the only management option consisted of strict food avoidance. Food allergen immunotherapy (food AIT) has emerged as an alternative, active intervention to strict food avoidance, with a multitude of research studies supporting its efficacy and good safety profile. Food AIT results in a raise of allergenic threshold, which provides several benefits to food-allergic patients, including protection from accidental exposures, potentially decreased severity of allergic reactions on unintentional exposures, and improvement in quality of life. In the last few years, multiple independent reports have been published proposing strategies to implement food oral immunotherapy in U.S. clinics, although formal guidelines are currently lacking. Because food immunotherapy is gaining traction, popularity, and interest among both patients and health care providers, many physicians look for guidance on how to implement this intervention in their daily practice. In other parts of the world, use of this treatment has prompted the development of various guidelines from allergy societies. This rostrum discusses currently available guidelines on food AIT from different areas of the world, describes and comments on their similarities and differences, and highlights unmet needs in this area of therapy.

Quality of life in children with food allergies, psychiatric symptoms, and caregiving burden of their mothers

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of life in children with food allergies, the accompanying depression and anxiety disorders, and caregiving burden of their mothers.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 168 children with food allergy visiting our clinic and their mothers were included in the study group. The control group included 152 children who visited the healthy child follow-up clinic of our hospital and their mothers. Studying mothers' opinions, the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) was used for evaluating children, and the Beck's Depression Inventory, Beck's Anxiety Inventory, Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, San Diego Auto-questionnaire, and Zarit Caregiver Burden Scales were used for evaluating mothers.

RESULTS

No differences were noticed between the study and control group regarding mean age and gender distribution (P > 0.05). In the study, the FAQLQ-PF total and subscale scores of children with food allergies were determined according to the opinions of their mothers, and scores tended to increase with age (P < 0.0001). In addition, it was determined that mothers of children with food allergies had higher levels of anxiety, depression, and caregiving burden than mothers of the control group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In order to develop a multidisciplinary approach for children with food allergies, we conceived as appropriate to inform their families about the difficulties of caregiving and psychosocial disorders that could develop over time. They also must be informed to take preventive measures as well as the medical aspects of their children's disease.

Low-Dose Oral Challenge Test in Pediatric Patients With Peanut Allergy: Tolerance Assessment of a Trace 5 mg Peanut Test After Symptom Induction With a 500 mg Test

Introduction Peanut allergy (PA) represents a significant public health concern, particularly prevalent in Western countries. Children at high risk for PA may undergo a low-dose oral food challenge (OFC). However, if the result is positive, complete elimination of peanuts from the diet is recommended, and further trace OFC is typically not performed.  Material and methods This cross-sectional study retrospectively examined the rate of positive peanut OFC with a total peanut load of 5 mg in children who tested positive with a total peanut load of 500 mg. Patient information was gathered from medical records. The primary endpoint was the rate at which children who tested positive in the OFC with 500 mg of peanut butter also tested positive with 5 mg of peanut butter equivalent.  Results Among 32 children who underwent an OFC with a total peanut load of 500 mg, two were excluded for not meeting the criteria. Among the remaining 30 children, 14 (46.7%) had a positive 500 mg peanut OFC test, and three (10%) experienced an anaphylactic reaction. Those who tested positive for the OFC had higher peanut-specific and Ara h2-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. An OFC with 5 mg of peanuts performed on 10 of the 14 patients who tested positive for 500 mg of peanuts showed no positive results. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that children with severe PA who exhibit positive symptoms to a total peanut load of 500 mg can tolerate a 5 mg dose of peanuts and should be considered for an OFC.

The development of the DEFASE project

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To familiarize the reader with the milestones of the DEFASE (Definition of Food Allergy Severity) project. This World Allergy Organization (WAO) initiative has recently developed the first international consensus-based classification system of severity associated with IgE-mediated food allergy as a whole disease incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives from different stakeholders involved.

RECENT FINDINGS

After a systematic review of current evidence on the definition of severity of food allergy, an e-Delphi methodology has been applied to obtain the consensus/agreement through repeated rounds of survey. This comprehensive scoring system has been developed to be used in research settings in its current version with the scope of stratifying the severity of a clinical situation of food allergy.

SUMMARY

Notwithstanding the limitations due to the complexity of the matter, the recent developed DEFASE definition will be relevant for establishing the levels of diagnostic, management and therapeutic commitment for the disease in the various geographical contexts. Future research should focus on internal and external validation of the scoring system, tailoring of these models to different food allergenic sources, populations, and settings.

Genetic Variation, Stress, and Physiological Stress Response in Adults With Food Allergy or Celiac Disease

BACKGROUND

Persistently high chronic stress can lead to maladaptive psychological, behavioral, and physiological stress responses and poor mental and physical health, highlighting the importance of identifying individuals at increased risk. Chronic health condition diagnosis and genetics are 2 characteristics that can influence stress, stress response, and health outcomes.

PURPOSE

Food allergy (FA) and celiac disease (CD) require constant vigilance in daily life and can lead to increased stress. The purpose of this exploratory analysis was to examine the association of variants in selected stress-related genes with stress exposures, stress, clinical measures of physiological stress response, and mental health symptoms in adults with and without FA or CD.

METHODS

We compared stress exposures, symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress, BMI, and waist-hip ratio between cases and controls. We analyzed the association of SNPs in genes with known or hypothesized associations with stress-related measures in 124 cases and 124 matched controls: CRHBP (rs7718461, rs10474485), CRHR1 (rs242940) and OXTR (rs2268490). For this exploratory study, p-values ≤ 0.10 were considered suggestive.

RESULTS

For cases and controls, rs7718461 was associated with stress symptoms, rs2268490 with symptoms of stress and PTSD, and rs242940 with symptoms of stress, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Further analyses found that stress-related outcomes in individuals with FA or CD may be influenced by SNP genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Given these suggestive findings, larger prospective studies should examine similar relationships in individuals with other chronic health conditions, incorporating factors such as environmental exposures, individual experiences, and epigenetic modifications.

Prevention of food allergy in infancy: the role of maternal interventions and exposures during pregnancy and lactation

There is increased focus on the role of maternal interventions in the prevention of food allergy in infancy. There is no role for maternal dietary modifications during pregnancy or lactation, such as allergen avoidance, as a means of infant allergy prevention. Although exclusive breastfeeding is the recommended infant nutrition source globally, the effect of breastfeeding on infant allergy prevention remains unclear. There is emerging evidence that irregular cow's milk exposure (ie, infrequent formula supplementation) might increase the risk of cow's milk allergy. Although further studies are required, there is also emerging evidence that maternal peanut ingestion during breastfeeding along with early peanut introduction in infancy might have a preventive role. The effect of maternal dietary supplementation with vitamin D, omega-3, and prebiotics or probiotics remains unclear.

Health-related quality of life in food and venom induced anaphylaxis and role of influencing factors

The impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) plays a key role for patients suffering from allergies and anaphylaxis. In this narrative review we review the HRQL in allergic patients suffering from food and venom allergy, both being the most frequent elicitors of severe allergic, potential life-threatening reactions and provide an overview on the current knowledge and identified gaps. The data show that for food and venom allergy standardized assessment tools to measure HRQL are available and have been successfully applied. Our analysis shows that multiple factors can modulate HRQL in these patient groups. These include sociodemographic data like patients' age and sex, fear of accidental reactions but also external factors like the social environment and the appreciation of the seriousness of the condition by others. External factors may have a significant impact on HRQL and should be considered in patient-related outcome assessments to avoid biased measurements possibly affecting the results. The assessment of the quality of life in the context of specific immunotherapy should consider lifestyle factors and ideally, the individual change in HRQL should be measured. Although there are many data indicating a negative impact on HRQL in food allergic children and their caregivers, limited data are existing from adults with food allergy and venom allergic patients from all age groups. Also, the use of standardized questionnaires should be extended to allow for a better comparability of results between studies. Therefore, translation to additional languages is necessary. Taken together, the eliciting allergen, the severity of the allergic disease but moreover multiple external factors impact the outcome in HRQL and should be considered in HRQL assessment.

Validated anxiety assessments among pediatric patients with peanut allergy on oral immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Although efficacy, safety, and quality of life measures associated with peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) have been studied, the relationship between peanut OIT and clinical anxiety has not yet been evaluated. The latter is important to help providers and families have an improved shared medical decision discussion around the benefits of initiating OIT.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between undergoing OIT and anxiety in patients with peanut allergy.

METHODS

In this prospective cross-sectional cohort study, using validated and age-appropriate anxiety scales administered with electronic survey questionnaires, we used generalized linear regressions to compare anxiety between patients undergoing OIT and similar patients with peanut allergy but not on OIT (controls).

RESULTS

In the younger cohort (<7 years, n = 80), there was generally a low prevalence of diagnosable anxiety across patients on OIT and controls. In the older cohort (>7 years, n = 125), there was a higher prevalence of anxiety but no clinically meaningful difference between anxiety scores of patients on OIT and controls. In the older cohort, patients with asthma were more likely to have higher mean anxiety scores (P = .04), as were female patients compared with male patients (P = .004). A subanalysis of separation anxiety scores in the older cohort revealed that younger age (7-12 years vs >12 years, P < .001), non-White race (P = .04), and eczema (P = .02) were found to be meaningful predictors of higher scores. A subanalysis of social anxiety on the older cohort pointed toward non-White race as a meaningful predictor of higher scores (P < .02).

CONCLUSION

The clinical implications of these findings suggest that allergists should particularly consider screening children with food allergy for anxiety and anxiety subtypes among patients who are non-White, female, or have asthma.

The frequency and characteristics of epinephrine use during in-flight allergic events

BACKGROUND

Allergic reactions account for 2% to 4% of medical events in-flight and 5.5% of all medical events in passengers 18 years and under.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the incidence of in-flight allergic events including availability, use of epinephrine, and final patient outcome.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of the ground-based medical service (GBMS) database from January 2017 to December 2019 for all allergic events and epinephrine utilization.

RESULTS

A total of 140,579 in-flight medical events (IFMEs) were initially retrieved from the period between January, 2017 and December, 2019, of which 4230 (3.0%) unique cases were identified as allergic events. Epinephrine administration was recommended in 398 passengers by GBMS. Of those, 328 (82.4%) ultimately received at least 1 dose of epinephrine. In multivariate analysis, there was a significant difference in the involvement of volunteers (odds ratio [OR], 3.19; P value < .001; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.43-4.16), availability of autoinjectors (OR, 2; P value < .001; 95% CI, 1.55-2.58), flight diversion (OR, 11.21; P value < .001; 95% CI, 3.60-34.89), and hospital transport (OR, 6.58; P value < .001; 95% CI, 4.62-9.38) between the 2 groups. Passengers older than 12 years of age were at a higher risk for epinephrine administration. In the secondary analysis of 51 airlines that consistently use GBMS for all IFMEs, the incidence of allergic events was found to be 0.91 cases per million passengers. The incidence of severe in-flight allergic emergencies requiring epinephrine administration was 0.08 cases per million passengers or 12.5 million passengers for 1 event.

CONCLUSION

IFME requiring epinephrine administration is rare with an incidence rate of 1 event in 12.5 million passengers. The risk for epinephrine administration is higher in passengers more than 12 years of age and is associated with significantly higher flight diversion, hospital transport, and involvement of medical volunteers.

Children at risk of anaphylaxis: A mixed-studies systematic review of parents' experiences and information needs

Objective

To explore parents' self-reported experiences and information needs regarding recognition and management of pediatric anaphylaxis.

Methods

We searched Ovid Medline, Ovid PsychInfo, CINAHL Plus, the Cochrane Library, and grey literature to identify primary studies in English or French published since 2000. We used a mixed-method appraisal tool and convergent integrated approach to assess quality and synthesize data, respectively.

Results

43 studies were included (22 quantitative, 19 qualitative, and 2 mixed-method); 77% of studies had high methodological quality. Parents' experiences were categorized as: recognizing an anaphylactic reaction; managing and responding to a reaction; emotional impact of caring for a child at risk of anaphylaxis; and interaction with the health system and healthcare providers. Parents' information needs were categorized into themes relating to: gaps in knowledge and information; type of information desired; information sources; and information delivery format.

Conclusion

Negative emotional experiences and a general lack of information were commonly reported by parents of included studies. Provision of relevant and comprehensible information may help parents to make informed decisions and manage reactions promptly.

Innovation

The findings of this review are guiding the development of an innovative knowledge translation tool (KT) as part of a larger initiative of developing a suite of parent-focused KT tools for acute childhood conditions.

Parental Knowledge about Allergies and Problems with an Elimination Diet in Children Aged 3 to 6 Years

Allergic diseases are highly prevalent, and they can exert a significant influence on the patients’ physical and mental well-being, thus affecting the quality of their lives and society as a whole. The aim of this study was to evaluate parental knowledge about allergens, allergy symptoms, and treatment of allergies, and to identify problems with adherence to an elimination diet and the underlying difficulties. Twelve kindergartens and the parents of 1350 preschoolers took part in the first stage of the study. In a screening trial, allergies were diagnosed in 197 children, and their parents participated in the second stage of the study. The child’s age at the onset of the first symptoms was significantly correlated with allergy type. Age was significantly correlated with selected symptoms of an allergic reaction, and skin allergies were more prevalent in younger children. Erythema, skin reddening, and urticaria occurred more frequently in children aged 3−4 years (OR 1.45; 95%CI 1.24−1.77, p < 0.05) and were diagnosed in skin tests (OR 1.36; 95%CI 1.22−1.59, p < 0.05). Allergies to numerous food items were associated with a long-term elimination diet (OR 1.89; 95%CI 1.33−2.19, p < 0.01), as well as problems with preparing safe meals, shopping for food, or dietary adherence when eating out. According to the respondents, lack of support from other family members and compliance with dietary restrictions in kindergartens and when eating out posed the greatest barriers to dietary adherence. Parents do not have sufficient knowledge about environmental allergens and effective strategies for coping with acute allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. Children with diagnosed food allergies should enjoy a similar quality of life to their healthy peers, which is why the parents should be educated about diet therapy, duration of treatment, and safe food substitutes.

Phase 2, randomized multi oral immunotherapy with omalizumab 'real life' study

BACKGROUND

Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is frequently discontinued due to adverse events (AEs) and current data suggests that lowering OIT doses can minimize severity and frequency of AEs. However, the minimum daily dose that can enable desensitization and induce immune responses in multi-food OIT (mOIT) is unknown.

METHODS

Participants aged 2-25 years with multi-food allergies were pretreated with fixed-dose omalizumab (150 mg, 3 doses, every 4 weeks), and randomized 1:1 to receive mOIT to a total maintenance dose of either 300 or 1200 mg total protein, (total dose includes at least two and up to a max of five allergens) and then transitioned to real-food protein equivalents after 18 weeks of treatment. The primary endpoint was the proportion of subjects with increases in IgG4/IgE ratio of at least 2 allergens by ≥25% from baseline after 18 weeks of therapy. The primary efficacy and safety analyses were done in the intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

Sixty participants were enrolled across two sites. Seventy percent of participants in both arms showed changes in sIgG4/sIgE ratio in at least 2 allergens with no difference between the treatment groups (OR [95% CI] = 1.00 [0.29, 3.49]). Overall, there were no differences in AEs between the 300 and 1200 mg groups (19% vs. 17%, p = .69), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that plasma marker changes are induced early, even at a total protein dose of 300 mg inclusive of multiple allergens when mOIT is combined with fixed-dose omalizumab. Identification of optimal mOIT dosing with adjunct omalizumab is needed for the long-term success of OIT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03181009).

Economic burden of food allergy in Canada: Estimating costs and identifying determinants

BACKGROUND

Limited data exist on the economic burden of food allergy (FA).

OBJECTIVE

To assess FA-related direct (healthcare and out-of-pocket) and indirect (lost productivity) costs and their determinants in Canadian children and adults self-reporting FA.

METHODS

FA-individuals self-reporting a convincing history or physician diagnosis were recruited through FA registries, an anaphylaxis registry, and advocacy associations, and electronically surveyed regarding FA-related healthcare use, out-of-pocket expenditures, and time lost from paid and unpaid labor. Direct and indirect costs (2020 Canadian dollars [CAD]) were stratified on severe reaction vs mild, moderate or no reaction, and children vs adults; multivariate regressions assessed the association between costs and sociodemographic and disease characteristics.

RESULTS

Between May 2018 and July 2019, 2692 eligible individuals responded (2189 convincing history and 503 physician diagnosis only); 1020 experienced a severe reaction; 1752 were children. Per FA-individual, annual healthcare, out-of-pocket, and indirect costs were $1267, $2136, and $7950. Those with a severe reaction had higher healthcare and out-of-pocket costs than those with mild, moderate or no reaction. FA-children vs FA-adults had higher healthcare and out-of-pocket costs, and lower indirect costs. Multivariate results showed that lower age, a severe reaction ever, multiple FAs, and fair or poor general health were associated with higher healthcare and out-of-pocket costs. Higher age, lower household education and income, and fair or poor general health were associated with higher indirect costs.

CONCLUSION

The economic burden of FA in Canada is substantial, particularly for those with a severe reaction ever, multiple FAs, and fair or poor general health. It is crucial that those most adversely affected are allocated appropriate resources to support disease management.

Development of IMPAACT (Impairment Measure for Parental Food Allergy-Associated Anxiety and Coping Tool), a validated tool to screen for food allergy-associated parental anxiety

BACKGROUND

Parents commonly experience anxiety owing to their children's food allergies (FAs). Although FA-specific anxiety screening tools for adult and pediatric patients exist, a tool for parents with children with food allergy is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a tool that measures parental anxiety related to their child's FA.

METHODS

To construct the instrument, items were developed based on consultations with stakeholders and review of existing literature. The instrument was then pilot tested, and items were modified based on relevance, importance, item-total correlations, and fit with the instrument's overall factor structure. The modified instrument was validated through assessing internal validity (reliability), convergent and discriminant validity, concurrent validity, and practical usefulness at 2 time points (precoronavirus disease 2019 and current).

RESULTS

The scale showed excellent reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.95). It had a 4-factor structure that was replicated at the 2 time points. The 4 subscales were moderately correlated (between r = 0.438 and 0.744). The scale showed excellent convergent and discriminatory validity, correlating moderately with State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and highly with Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden. It also showed excellent concurrent validity, differentiating among many external variables. Most importantly, it successfully differentiated parents in need of psychological support for problems related to their child's FA.

CONCLUSION

The Impairment Measure for Parental Food Allergy-associated Anxiety and Coping Tool fills a gap in the existing literature as a validated screening tool for parental anxiety associated with a child's FA, employing a multi-factor structure addressing multiple dimensions of anxiety and its functional impacts. It has excellent internal and external validity and is well-suited for use in both research and clinical settings to quickly determine which parents of children with FA are in need of further psychological support.

The burden of food allergy on children and teens: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Over the last two decades, researchers have placed increasing attention on understanding how food allergy affects the health-related quality of life (HRQL) and psychosocial well-being of children and teens. In response, a number of reviews have been published that aim at synthesizing the literature. However, many of these papers focus narrowly on HRQL or suffer from methodological limitations.

METHOD

The current review aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive overview of the burden of pediatric food allergy by synthesizing the quantitative and qualitative literature.

RESULTS

Findings from the present review provide evidence of reduced HRQL among children and teens with food allergy, particularly older children and those with more severe manifestations of the condition. In comparison to HRQL, the link between food allergy and psychosocial functioning is less clear; however, some evidence can be cited linking food allergy to greater levels of psychological distress. Qualitative evidence suggests that the burden of pediatric food allergy largely stems from worries surrounding exposures outside of the home and the social consequences of the condition. The current review also highlights several gaps in the literature, including a paucity of longitudinal research, research focused on predictors of psychological distress among children and teens with food allergy as well as a dearth of studies comparing rates of bullying in food-allergic and non-food-allergic samples.

CONCLUSION

More emphasis should be placed on not only alleviating the social and psychological consequences of food allergy, but also on identifying and assisting those most acutely burdened by the condition.

Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life (APPEAL): The impact of peanut allergy on children, teenagers, adults and caregivers in the UK and Ireland

The Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life study (APPEAL) explored the psychosocial burden of living with self-reported peanut allergy experienced by children, teenagers, adults and caregivers in the UK and Ireland. A two-stage (quantitative survey and qualitative interview [APPEAL-1]), cross-sectional study of the psychosocial burden of peanut allergy (APPEAL-2) was conducted. Quantitative data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analysed using MAXQDA software. A conceptual model specific to UK and Ireland was developed using the concepts identified during the analysis. A total of 284 adults in the UK and Ireland completed the APPEAL-1 survey and 42 individuals participated in APPEAL-2. Respondents reported that peanut allergy restricts their choices in various situations, especially with regard to choosing food when eating out (87% moderately or severely restricted), choosing where to eat (82%), special occasions (76%) and when buying food from a shop (71%). Fifty-two percent of survey participants and 40% of interview participants reported being bullied because of PA. Psychological impact of peanut allergy included feeling at least moderate levels of frustration (70%), uncertainty (79%), and stress (71%). The qualitative analysis identified three different types of coping strategies (daily monitoring or vigilance, communication and planning) and four main areas of individuals' lives that are impacted by peanut allergy (social activities, relationships, emotions and work [adults and caregivers only]). The extent of the impact reported varied substantially between participants, with some reporting many negative consequences of living with peanut allergy and others feeling it has minimal impact on their health-related quality of life. This large survey and interview study highlight the psychosocial burden of peanut allergy for adults, teenagers, children and caregivers in the UK and Ireland. The analysis demonstrates the wide variation in level of impact of peanut allergy and the unmet need for those individuals who experience a substantial burden from living with peanut allergy.

Food-allergy-specific anxiety and distress in parents of children with food allergy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Parenting a child with food allergy (FA) can lead to impaired quality of life and family functioning. Anxiety is a critical component of FA-associated distress and a potential target for therapeutic intervention. This systematic review aimed to clarify the concept of FA-specific anxiety (FAA) and its antecedents, consequences, and correlates and to determine the extent to which existing FA-specific outcome measures capture symptoms of parental distress and FAA.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CENTRAL were searched for qualitative and quantitative studies examining distress or anxiety in parents of children with FA through August 2020. This review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020208316) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight studies were included in the final narrative synthesis. Most participants were mothers, and reporting of demographic data was limited. Parents identified anxiety as the most burdensome form of FA-specific emotional distress. Several allergy-related factors as well as medical and psychosocial interventions were associated with reduced parental anxiety and distress. However, affective, cognitive, and behavioral dimensions of FAA were only partially addressed by existing measures for general anxiety symptoms and FA-specific parental factors.

CONCLUSIONS

FAA contributes to distress and functional impairment among parents of children with FA. Current FA-specific parent measures fail to adequately capture dimensions of FAA, suggesting that further work is needed to improve the assessment and monitoring of FAA and its impacts. Characterization of this construct represents an initial step in developing standardized methods for assessing and monitoring FAA in clinical populations.

Health-related quality of life of food-allergic children compared with healthy controls and other diseases

BACKGROUND

Food allergy is a potentially life-threatening disease, affecting up to 10% of the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of food-allergic patients compared with the general population and patients with other chronic diseases with dietary or allergic burden, in a cross-sectional study.

METHODS

We recruited patients aged 8-17 years diagnosed with food allergy and matched healthy controls recruited in schools. We also included patients with asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, diabetes, obesity, and eating disorders. We used the CHQ-CF87 questionnaire for generic HRQL assessment. Food allergy HRQL was also assessed using specific questionnaires: Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (FAQLQ) and Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM).

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-five food-allergic children, 255 children with chronic diseases, and 463 healthy controls were included in the analyses. Food-allergic patients had a better HRQL than healthy controls in the Behavior (BE), Bodily Pain (BP), Family Activities (FA), and Mental Health (MH) domains and a worse HRQL in the General Health Perception (GH) domain (p = .048). Food-allergic patients exhibited a better HRQL than patients affected by other chronic diseases, notably diabetes. Although an epinephrine autoinjector had been prescribed to 87.4% of the food-allergic children, only 54.2% of them carried it at all times.

CONCLUSION

Food-allergic patients display overall good HRQL compared with the general population and those with other diseases with daily symptoms and treatments, in line with recent improvements in food allergy management.

Nut Allergy: Clinical and Allergological Features in Italian Children

BACKGROUND

Nut allergies are an increasingly frequent health issue in the pediatric population. Tree nuts (TN) and peanuts are the second cause of food anaphylaxis in Italy. Unfortunately, knowledge of the clinical characteristics of a TN allergy in Italian children is limited. Our study aimed to identify the clinical and allergological characteristics of Italian children with a nut allergy (TN and peanut).

METHODS

A retrospective observational analysis was performed on the clinical charts of children with a history of nut reaction referred to the allergy unit of the hospital from 2015 to 2019. The studied population was represented by children with a confirmed nut allergy based on positive prick by prick and/or serum-specific IgE to nut plus a positive nut oral food challenge. Demographic, clinical, and allergological features were studied and compared among different nuts.

RESULTS

In total, 318 clinical charts were reviewed. Nut allergy was confirmed in 113 patients. Most patients (85/113, 75%) had a familial history of allergy and/or a concomitant allergic disorder (77/113, 68%). Hazelnut and walnut were the more common culprit nuts observed in allergic children. Anaphylaxis was the first clinical manifestation of nut allergy in a high percentage of children (54/113, 48%). The mean age of the first nut reaction was statistically higher with pine nuts. Over 75% of children reported a single nut reaction. During the OFCs, the signs and symptoms involved mainly the gastrointestinal system (82/113, 73%) and resolved spontaneously in most cases. Severe reactions were not frequent (22/113, 19%).

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first Italian study that provided a comprehensive characterization of children with a nut allergy. These results are important for clinicians treating children with a nut allergy.

A scoping review of the caregiver burden of pediatric food allergy

OBJECTIVE

Although a number of articles have described the psychosocial impact of raising a child with a food allergy, recent attempts at synthesizing this literature have been narrow in focus or methodologically limited. Consequently, this study aimed to synthesize both the quantitative and qualitative literature to achieve a better understanding of the psychosocial and financial burdens faced by families who raise children with food allergy.

DATA SOURCES

Searches were performed on PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases for articles related to the psychosocial and financial burden experienced by individuals who care for a child with food allergy.

STUDY SELECTIONS

English language, original research articles were included in this review.

RESULTS

A total of 54 articles were deemed eligible for review. Results from the quantitative literature revealed that parents of children with food allergy (ie, food allergy and food protein-induced enterocolitis, proctocolitis, and enteropathy) consistently reported lower quality of life than their comparison groups. Within-group analyses suggest that this burden is increased for parents who manage multiple food allergies, severe food allergy, and comorbid allergic conditions. Thematic synthesis of the qualitative literature suggests that the psychosocial burden shouldered by parents of children with food allergy stems, in part, from the unpredictable threat of exposure and the practical and social burdens of managing a food allergy. In addition to psychosocial burdens, a small but growing body of literature suggests that families with food allergy also incur greater financial costs.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that pediatric food allergy imposes considerable burdens on parents both quantitatively and qualitatively.

White paper on peanut allergy - part 1: Epidemiology, burden of disease, health economic aspects

Peanuts are Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume or pea family, and peanut allergy is among the most common food allergies and the most common cause of fatal food reactions and anaphylaxis.

The prevalence of peanut allergy increased 3.5-fold over the past two decades reaching 1.4–2% in Europe and the United States. The reasons for this increase in prevalence are likely multifaceted. Sensitization via the skin appears to be associated with the development of peanut allergy and atopic eczema in infancy is associated with a high risk of developing peanut allergy.

Until recently, the only possible management strategy for peanut allergy was strict allergen avoidance and emergency treatment including adrenaline auto-injector in cases of accidental exposure and reaction.

This paper discusses the various factors that impact the risks of peanut allergy and the burden of self-management on peanut-allergic children and their caregivers.

Association Between Food Allergy, Psychological Stress, and Allostatic Load

Allostatic load (AL), the cumulative biological burden of persistently high stress exposure, influences adult health and well-being across the lifespan, and can be measured with clinical indicators, such as BMI, blood pressure (BP), and waist-hip ratio. Adverse childhood events and other stressors contribute to AL, but stress from other sources, such as previously diagnosed chronic health conditions, has been overlooked. We hypothesized that adults with these conditions would have more stress exposures, higher perceived stress, worse mental health, and higher AL, compared to controls. A secondary analysis of deidentified data from cases with self-reported food allergies and controls found that individuals with chronic health conditions reported more stress exposures, higher levels of perceived stress, and had higher AL, compared to controls. However, other results did not support the study hypotheses. Future studies should examine additional AL measures, such as biomarkers of stress response, in individuals with existing chronic health conditions.

Consensus on DEfinition of Food Allergy SEverity (DEFASE) an integrated mixed methods systematic review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The term "Food Allergy" refers to a complex global health problem with a wide spectrum of severity. However, a uniform definition of severe food allergy is currently missing. This systematic review is the preliminary step towards a state-of-the-art synopsis of the current evidence relating to the severity of IgE-mediated food allergy; it will inform attempts to develop a consensus to define food allergy severity by clinicians and other stakeholders.

METHODS

We undertook a mixed-methods systematic review, which involved searching 11 international biomedical databases for published studies from inception to 31 December 2019. Studies were independently screened against pre-defined eligibility criteria and critically appraised by established instruments. The substantial heterogeneity of included studies precluded meta-analyses and, therefore, narrative synthesis of quantitative and qualitative data was performed.

RESULTS

We found 23 studies providing eligible primary data on symptom-specific severity of food allergic reactions, and 31 previously published symptom-severity scoring systems referred to food allergic reactions. There were seven studies which assessed quality-of-life measures in patients (and family members) with different food allergy severity and two studies that investigated the economic burden of food allergy severity. Overall, the quality and the global rating of all included studies were judged as being moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

There is heterogeneity among severity scoring systems used and even outcomes considered in the context of severity of food allergy. No score has been validated. Our results will be used to inform the development of an international consensus to define the severity of food allergy.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

A protocol was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database with the registration number CRD42020183103 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails).

Omalizumab as an adjuvant in food allergen immunotherapy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the most relevant studies in the rapidly advancing field of omalizumab as an adjunct to food allergen oral immunotherapy (OIT).

RECENT FINDINGS

Clinical trials have primarily focused on milk, peanut, and multiallergen OIT combined with omalizumab. These studies suggest that omalizumab in addition to OIT can decrease the time required to reach maintenance OIT dosing and adverse events; however, serious adverse events did still occur. There is limited long-term data but available information suggests that individuals are at risk for increased reactivity after stopping omalizumab, and many discontinued treatment. There has been diversity in study designs, dosing, and populations.

SUMMARY

The use of anti-IgE antibody as an adjunct to food allergen OIT has been an expanding area of research with several additional trials underway. Significant progress has been made in the past decades but further studies are needed to optimize protocols, improve safety and efficacy, and identify patients who will have the greatest benefit.

Economic burden of peanut allergy in pediatric patients with evidence of reactions to peanuts in the United States

BACKGROUND: The economic burden of food allergy is large; however, costs specific to individuals with peanut allergy experiencing reactions to peanuts remain to be evaluated. As the prevalence of peanut allergy continues to increase in children, a better understanding of the cost of care is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost of care of peanut allergy among privately insured and Medicaid-insured pediatric patients in the United States. METHODS: This retrospective matched-cohort study included patients aged 4-17 years from the Optum Health Care Solutions and Medicaid Claims databases (January 1, 2007-March 31, 2017). Patients were classified into 2 cohorts: peanut allergy (with peanut allergy diagnosis codes and reactions triggering health care resource utilization [HRU]) and peanut allergy-free (no peanut allergy diagnosis codes in claims). Peanut allergy patients were matched 1:10 to peanut allergy-free patients based on baseline covariates. Comorbidities including anxiety and depression, HRU, and direct health care costs were compared between cohorts and reported for both perspectives separately. RESULTS: Compared with peanut allergy-free patients (n = 30,840 privately insured; n = 12,450 Medicaid), peanut allergy patients (n = 3,084 privately insured; n = 1,245 Medicaid) had higher prevalence of asthma, atopic dermatitis/eczema, other food allergies, allergic rhinitis, depression, and anxiety (all P < 0.01). Peanut allergy patients had higher HRU per patient per year (PPPY), including 90% more emergency department visits among both privately insured and Medicaid patients (P < 0.01) and higher direct health care costs PPPY, with incremental costs of $2,247 total or $1,712 excluding asthma-related costs for privately insured patients and $2,845 total or $1,844 excluding asthma-related costs for Medicaid patients (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric patients in the United States with peanut allergy and reactions triggering HRU had significantly higher comorbidity burdens, HRU, and direct health care costs, regardless of asthma-related costs, versus those without peanut allergy. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by Aimmune Therapeutics, a Nestlé Health Science company. The study sponsor was involved in several aspects of the research including the study design, the interpretation of data, the writing of the manuscript, and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Yu and Tilles are employees of Aimmune Therapeutics, a Nestlé Health Science company. Robison and Norrett were employees of Aimmune Therapeutics at the time this study was conducted. Blaiss, Meadows, and Hass provided paid consulting services to Aimmune Therapeutics. Guerin and Latremouille-Viau are employees of Analysis Group, a consulting company that provided paid consulting services to Aimmune Therapeutics. Parts of the results were presented at the AMCP Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting held March 25-28, 2019, in San Diego, CA, and at the ISPOR Annual Meeting held May 18-22, 2019, in New Orleans, LA.

SF-6Dv2 preference value set for health utility in food allergy

BACKGROUND

The lack of a value set allowing the calculation of QALY is an important limitation when establishing the value of emerging therapies to treat food allergy. The aim of this study was to develop a Short-Form Six-Dimension version 2 (SF-6Dv2) preference value set for the calculation of health utility from the Canadian food-allergic population.

METHODS

Two hundred ninety-five parents of patients aged 0-17 years old and 154 patients aged 12 years old and above with food allergy were recruited in clinic and online. Participants were asked to complete a self-administered online questionnaire including generic health-related quality of life questionnaires. Various health states described by the SF-6Dv2 were valued with time-trade-off and discrete choice experiments. Data from elicitation techniques were combined using the hybrid regression model.

RESULTS

A total of 241 parents and 125 patients performed 3904 time-trade-off and 5112 discrete choice experiments. Utility decrements were estimated for each level of each SF-6Dv2 dimension. Utility values calculated based on the validated preference set were in average 0.15 lower (95%CI: 0.12-0.18) and were poorly correlated (R²  = 0.46) with those derived from the EQ-5D-5L generic questionnaire in the same cohort.

CONCLUSION

A representative preference value set for patients with food allergy was determined using the SF-6Dv2 generic questionnaire. This adapted preference set will contribute to improve the validity of future utility estimates in this population for the appraisal of upcoming potentially impactful but sometimes costly therapies.

Studie Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life (APPEAL)

Hintergrund

In Industrieländern sind bis zu 3 % aller Kinder von einer Erdnussallergie betroffen. Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life (APPEAL) ist die erste große Studie, die die Auswirkungen und Belastungen durch eine Erdnussallergie auf Betroffene und Angehörige untersucht.

Material und Methoden

Betroffene mit Erdnussallergie und deren Eltern/Betreuer nahmen entweder an einer Online-Umfrage teil (APPEAL‑1, n = 273) oder gaben detaillierte Interviews (APPEAL‑2, n = 32).

Ergebnisse

Von den Befragten der APPEAL-1-Studie (56 erwachsene Patienten mit Erdnussallergie und 217 Eltern/Betreuer von Personen mit Erdnussallergie) gaben 85 % an, dass die Erdnussallergie ihre täglichen Aktivitäten beeinflusst, 65 % fühlten sich deshalb isoliert. 91 % sorgten sich besonders bei gesellschaftlichen Anlässen vor einer potenziellen Erdnussexposition; 85 % verspürten Hindernisse beim Pflegen sozialer Kontakte. Die häufigsten psychologischen Auswirkungen der Erdnussallergie waren Frustration (89 %), Unsicherheit (86 %) und Stress (88 %). Ein Großteil der Befragten (84 %) beschrieb ein Gefühl der Andersartigkeit. Durch die Erdnussallergie kommt es häufig zu Beeinträchtigungen bei sozialen Aktivitäten, im schulischen Umfeld, im Beruf (bei Eltern und erwachsenen Betroffenen) sowie in Bezug auf emotionales Befinden und Beziehungen. Als wichtigste Bewältigungsstrategien nannten die Teilnehmer eine gute Überwachung von Nahrung und Hygiene, den Austausch mit anderen und eine akribische Planung von Aktivitäten.

Schlussfolgerungen

Dies ist die erste alltagsbezogene Umfrage in Deutschland, die die Auswirkungen und Belastungen einer Erdnussallergie bei betroffenen Kindern, Jugendlichen und deren Eltern/Betreuern sowie bei selbst betroffenen Erwachsenen aufzeigt.

APPEAL-1: A multiple-country European survey assessing the psychosocial impact of peanut allergy

Background

Peanut allergy (PA) is a common, potentially life‐threatening and typically lifelong condition with a significant burden of illness. However, information is lacking on how persons with PA (PwPA) and their caregivers perceive the psychosocial impact of living with PA. The Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life 1 (APPEAL‐1) survey, conducted across Europe, investigated the experience and impact of living with PA. Here, we report data evaluating the psychosocial impact of PA on PwPA and their caregivers.

Methods

Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life study 1 was an online survey conducted in eight European countries. Representatives of eight patient advocacy groups and five healthcare‐research specialists developed the survey. Eligible respondent groups included the following: adults diagnosed with PA (self‐report); parent/nonparent caregivers (proxy‐report for a child with PA); and parent/nonparent caregivers (self‐report of PA impact on themselves).

Results

Of 1846 total study respondents, 419 were adults with PA (self‐report); 546 were parents/caregivers (proxy‐report); and 881 were parents/caregivers (self‐report). Most respondents reported lifestyle restrictions regarding food (84%‐93%) and additional domains including parties and socializing, holiday activities and destinations, and taking public transport (53%‐89%). Approximately 40% rated themselves as “very” frustrated and “very” stressed. Two‐thirds (65%) felt socially isolated; 43% were bullied. Less than half felt confident in knowing when to use an adrenaline autoinjector. Several intercountry differences were observed such as high levels of uncertainty and stress in respondents from Ireland, highest rates of anxiety in respondents from Germany, and social exclusion and isolation most common in respondents from France.

Conclusions

Peanut allergy imposes an adverse psychosocial impact on patients and caregivers, leading to frustration, stress and isolation. Attention to the impact of PA is needed in research and clinical practice to improve PA healthcare and public education programmes.

Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life (APPEAL): the impact of peanut allergy on children, adolescents, adults and caregivers in France

Background

Peanut allergy (PA) has increased in developed countries and can have a dramatic effect on quality of life but data surrounding this is limited in France. Allergy to Peanuts imPacting Emotions And Life study (APPEAL) investigated the experience and impact of living with PA in France.

Methods

Respondents affected by PA directly (children aged 8–12 years, teenagers aged 13–17 years, or adults aged ≥ 18 years) or indirectly (caregiver) completed either an online questionnaire (APPEAL-1, N = 198), or provided in-depth interviews (APPEAL-2, N = 32). Quantitative data was evaluated using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was analysed thematically, using MAXQDA software.

Results

Of 198 responders in APPEAL-1, 88% stated that PA affects their daily activities, and 74% felt isolated as a result of living with PA. Feelings of worry about exposure to peanuts on social occasions where food is involved was reported by 91%. A total of 44% reported some restrictions in their job options, 85% in socializing. Psychological impact of PA included responders feeling emotions of frustration (89%), uncertainty (87%), and stress (93%) and 93% reporting encountering instances of feeling different due to their PA. Main factors that drove PA impact included social activities and relationships; whereas main coping strategies to avoid peanuts included monitoring, communication and planning.

Conclusion

The analysis of French respondents from the APPEAL study demonstrates the impact and burden of PA on allergic children, teenagers, adults and their caregivers, and highlights the unmet need to be addressed.

Milk allergy most burdensome in multi-food allergic children

BACKGROUND

Food allergy is a substantial health burden, which disproportionately affects children. Among children with food allergy, as many as 70% have multiple food allergies. Whereas the overall burden of food allergy on quality of life has been described, little is known about the burden of individual allergens. We aimed to examine the perception of burden among families with multiple food-allergic children.

METHODS

Parents of children with 1 + children with multiple food allergies including milk responded to online questions, including both open-ended and closed-ended questions on food allergy-related burdens of time, financial costs, social restrictions, and emotional demands.

RESULTS

Overall, 64 children (69.8% boys) of whom (73.0%) most were aged 10 and younger were included. Most had been diagnosed with food allergy in infancy and by a (pediatric) allergist. Other common allergies included peanut (65.6%), tree nuts (57.8%), egg (76.6%), and sesame (31.3%). Quantitatively, milk allergy was reported as carrying the most burden, including most socially limiting (81.5%), requiring the most planning (75.9%), causing the most anxiety (68.5%), most challenging to find "safe" or allergy-friendly foods (72.2%), and costly (81.5%). Qualitatively, we identified five themes that captured burdens associated with costs, marketing of milk products to children, risk of cross-contamination, ubiquity of milk/dairy and public confusion with lactose intolerance, and an unwillingness of others to accommodate the allergy.

CONCLUSION

Parents whose children have multiple food allergies, including milk, report milk as the allergy associated with the greatest time, financial, social, and emotional burdens.

Psychosocial and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy

Background

Limited previous research has assessed the psychosocial burden and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy and factors associated with burden. The objective of this research was to explore caregiver burden in terms of psychosocial and productivity impact of caring for a child with peanut allergy, the influence of caregiver and child gender on caregiver burden, and factors predicting caregiver burden in peanut allergy.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of caregivers of children with peanut allergy was conducted in the United Kingdom, and included sociodemographic and clinical questions, EQ-5D, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Food Allergy Quality of Life-Parental Burden, Food Allergy Independent Measure, and productivity questions.

Results

One hundred caregivers (55% female) of children with peanut allergy (aged 4-15 years) completed the survey. Male and female caregivers reported mean levels of anxiety significantly higher than United Kingdom population norms. Caregivers of children with severe peanut allergy reported significant impacts on their careers and health-related quality of life. Neither caregiver nor child gender impacted burden, indicating that male and female caregivers are equally anxious and suffer the same level of negative career, productivity, and health-related quality-of-life impact due to their child's peanut allergy. Caregivers' perceived risk of outcomes related to their child's peanut allergy (e.g., death or severe reaction) as measured by the Food Allergy Independent Measure independently predicted burden.

Conclusions

Caregivers of children with peanut allergy in the United Kingdom experience health-related quality-of-life, psychosocial, and productivity burden; this study demonstrates the high levels of anxiety reported by both male and female caregivers.

Efficacy and safety of oral immunotherapy with AR101 in European children with a peanut allergy (ARTEMIS): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

Peanut allergy is the leading cause of food-related anaphylaxis. Current management options can negatively affect food allergy-related quality of life. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of an investigational oral biologic drug (AR101).

METHODS

The AR101 Trial in Europe Measuring Oral Immunotherapy Success in peanut-allergic children (ARTEMIS) trial was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial done at 18 hospitals in Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. Children and adolescents with peanut allergy, aged 4-17 years, who developed dose-limiting symptoms to 300 mg or less peanut protein (equivalent to approximately one peanut kernel) during a double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge test at study entry were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned (3:1) to receive daily doses of either AR101 oral immunotherapy (AR101 group) or a taste-masked placebo (placebo group). All participants, investigators, and care providers were masked to treatment allocation until the study was completed. Doses were increased every 2 weeks over 6 months until a dose of 300 mg was reached and maintained for 3 months. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants in the intention-to-treat or safety population (defined as those participants who had been randomly assigned and had received at least one dose of the assigned drug) who could consume a single dose of 1000 mg (cumulative dose 2043 mg) peanut protein without developing dose-limiting allergic symptoms at an exit double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge after 9 months of treatment. Additional endpoints included safety (ie, the frequency and severity of adverse events) and changes in food allergy-related quality of life, assessed by use of age-appropriate Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQs) and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM). The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03201003, and is completed.

FINDINGS

Between June 12, 2017, and Feb 15, 2018, 227 patients were screened, of whom 175 were randomly assigned to the AR101 group (n=132) and the placebo group (n=43). All primary and secondary endpoints were met. 77 (58%) of 132 participants in the AR101 group tolerated 1000 mg peanut protein at the exit food challenge versus one (2%) of 43 participants in the placebo group (AR101-placebo treatment difference 56·0% [95% CI 44·1-65·2], p<0·0001). Adverse events were reported by almost all participants. The maximum severity of adverse events reported was mild or moderate for most participants who received AR101 (mild, 66 [50%] of 132 participants; moderate, 63 [48%]; and severe, one [1%]) or placebo (mild, 24 [56%] of 43 participants; moderate, 18 [42%]; severe, none). Participants aged 8-12 years in the AR101 group reported improvements that exceeded the minimum clinically important difference between the two groups across all FAQLQ domains. Additionally, participants in the AR101 group and their caregivers reported improvements that exceeded the minimum clinically important difference in FAIM domains related to the perceived likelihood and outcomes of a severe allergic reaction.

INTERPRETATION

AR101 oral immunotherapy treatment led to rapid desensitisation to peanut protein, with a predictable safety profile that improved with treatment, and an associated improvement in self-reported and caregiver-reported food allergy-related quality of life. These patient-oriented outcomes provide invaluable data to help physicians, patients, and caregivers make informed, shared decisions on the management of peanut allergy.

FUNDING

Aimmune Therapeutics.

Management of Peanut Allergy

Peanut allergy is a growing public health concern in westernized countries. Peanut allergy is characterized as an often severe and lifelong allergy, which can have detrimental effects on quality of life and trigger anxiety. Although multiple therapeutic options are emerging, the focus of current management strategies is strict peanut avoidance and carriage of self-injectable epinephrine. The greatest risk of reacting to peanut comes from direct ingestion, whereas casual skin contact or airborne exposure is highly unlikely to provoke significant symptoms. Patients and families must be educated about how to best execute strict peanut avoidance through careful label reading as well as how to understand and address likely and unlikely risk with regard to peanut exposure in public, in particular when dining outside of the home and for children attending school or child care. This review discusses the risk of exposure in public such as at school or on an airplane and how such risk can be abated, situations and scenarios when dining out of the house that may pose more risks than others, the essentials of US and EU label reading laws with particular emphasis on precautionary labeling and the risk implied by such, quality of life and psychosocial issues that may affect the peanut allergic individual and family, and a discussion of how risk may differ and evolve based on the patient's age.

Long-term, open-label extension study of the efficacy and safety of epicutaneous immunotherapy for peanut allergy in children: PEOPLE 3-year results

BACKGROUND

The PEPITES (Peanut EPIT Efficacy and Safety) trial, a 12-month randomized controlled study of children with peanut allergy and 4 to 11 years old, previously reported the safety and efficacy of epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) for peanut allergy (250 μg, daily epicutaneous peanut protein; DBV712 250 μg).

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess interim safety and efficacy of an additional 2 years of EPIT from the ongoing (5-year treatment) PEOPLE (PEPITES Open-Label Extension) study.

METHODS

Subjects who completed PEPITES were offered enrollment in PEOPLE. Following an additional 2 years of daily DBV712 250 μg, subjects who had received DBV712 250 μg in PEPITES underwent month-36 double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge with an optional month-38 sustained unresponsiveness assessment.

RESULTS

Of 213 eligible subjects who had received DBV712 250 μg in PEPITES, 198 (93%) entered PEOPLE, of whom 141 (71%) had assessable double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge at month 36. At month 36, 51.8% of subjects (73 of 141) reached an eliciting dose of ≥1000 mg, compared with 40.4% (57 of 141) at month 12; 75.9% (107 of 141) demonstrated increased eliciting dose compared with baseline; and 13.5% (19 of 141) tolerated the full double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge of 5444 mg. Median cumulative reactive dose increased from 144 to 944 mg. Eighteen subjects underwent an optional sustained unresponsiveness assessment; 14 of those (77.8%) maintained an eliciting dose of ≥1000 mg at month 38. Local patch-site skin reactions were common but decreased over time. There was no treatment-related epinephrine use in years 2 or 3. Compliance was high (96.9%), and withdrawals due to treatment-related adverse events were low (1%).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that daily EPIT treatment for peanut allergy beyond 1 year leads to continued response from a well-tolerated, simple-to-use regimen.

Can food allergy be cured? What are the future prospects?

Food allergies have become a significant heath burden as prevalence continues to rise, affecting 6%-13% of the global population. In the absence of drugs approved by regulatory agencies, the current standard of care remains avoidance of allergenic foods and management of acute allergic reactions with antihistamines and epinephrine autoinjectors. Allergen immunotherapy has been shown to increase the threshold of reactivity in the majority of food-allergic individuals. However, challenges include long treatment periods, high rates of adverse reactions, and lack of permanence of desensitization and established protocols. To address these limitations, adjunctive allergen-specific immunotherapy, vaccines, and non-allergen-specific therapies (eg, monoclonal antibodies) are being explored. The future of food allergy treatment is promising with a number of clinical trials in progress. Currently, although desensitization can be achieved for the majority of individuals with food allergy through immunotherapy, continued ingestion of allergen is needed for most individuals to maintain desensitization. Further understanding of the mechanisms of food allergy and identification of biomarkers to distinguish between temporary and permanent resolution of allergies is needed before a cure, where reactivity to the allergen is permanently lost enabling the individual to consume the allergen in any amount at any time, can be envisioned.

Peanut Allergy: New Advances and Ongoing Controversies

Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, with increasing prevalence over time. The dual-allergen exposure hypothesis now supports transcutaneous sensitization to peanut as a likely pathophysiologic mechanism for peanut allergy development. As a result, there is emerging evidence that early peanut introduction has a role in peanut allergy prevention. Current first-line diagnostic tests for peanut allergy have limited specificity, which may be enhanced with emerging tools such as component-resolved diagnostics. Although management of peanut allergy includes avoidance and carrying an epinephrine autoinjector, risk of fatal anaphylaxis is extremely low, and there is minimal risk related to cutaneous or inhalational exposure. Quality of life in children with peanut allergy requires significant focus. Moving forward, oral and epicutaneous immunotherapy are emerging and exciting tools that may have a role to play in desensitization to peanut.

Quality of life improves significantly after real-world oral immunotherapy for children with peanut allergy

BACKGROUND

Peanut oral immunotherapy (POIT) is a novel and active form of treatment for patients with peanut allergy, with multiple research studies supporting its efficacy and safety. However, there are limited data available on changes in patients' quality of life (QoL) after successful desensitization. The Food and Drug Administration in the United States recently approved the first POIT drug for commercial use.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the QoL of patients with peanut allergy receiving POIT in a real-world academic setting.

METHODS

Twenty-one patients aged 4 to 17 years with a physician-established diagnosis of peanut allergy were offered POIT. Quality-of-life scores were assessed with the use of a validated Food Allergy Quality of Life questionnaire. Changes in quality-of-life scores were measured for each patient before and after POIT. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the distributions of scores before and after therapy.

RESULTS

We noted a statistically significant drop (reflecting improvement in the QoL) in the overall Food Allergy Quality of Life score (median 3.70 vs 2.97, P = .049) between baseline and successful desensitization to 300-mg peanut protein. In addition, the Social and Dietary Limitations subscale score (median 4.33 vs 2.89, P = .02) and the Food Allergy Independent Measure score (median 3.17 vs 2.22, P = .001) also improved significantly after therapy.

CONCLUSION

We report a significant improvement in the overall QoL before and after POIT treatment, with fewer concerns about accidental exposures and severity of allergic reactions as well as fewer limitations in dietary choices and social interactions.

Polyphenol-oxidase-catalyzed cross-linking of Ara h 2: reaction sites and effect on structure and allergenicity

BACKGROUND

Peanut is among the most common of food allergies, and one of its allergens is Ara h 2. A previous study revealed that this allergen was recognized by serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) in over 90% of a peanut-allergic patient population. Enzymatic cross-linking is a popular processing method used to tailor food functionality, such as antigenicity.

RESULT

The cross-linking reactions of Ara h 2 were catalyzed by polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and the relevant reaction sites were identified using mass spectrometry and StavroX software. Two pairs of intramolecular cross-linking peptides and two intermolecular cross-linking peptides were found. Intramolecular cross-linking was speculated to occur between ARG¹³¹ (amino acids 116-131) and TYR⁶⁵ (amino acids 63-80) and between TYR⁶⁰ (amino acids 56-62) and ARG⁹² (amino acids 92-102); the intermolecular cross-linking sites were ARG³¹ with TYR⁸⁴ or TYR⁸⁹ and TYR⁶⁵ or TYR⁷² with ARG⁹² or ARG¹⁰² . Three out of four cross-linking peptides were found in α-helices, and destruction of this secondary structure resulted in a loose tertiary structure. Although seven linear allergen epitopes were involved in cross-linking, the IgE binding capacity of protein changed slightly, while its sensitization potential decreased in mouse model.

CONCLUSION

Exploring the structural change of Ara h 2 after cross-linking is beneficial in further understanding the influence of structure on sensitization. This result indicated the future possibility of precision processing on structure of proteins to improve their properties. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.