A patient survey study confirms that food allergies impose a significant psychosocial burden on patients and their caregivers.
Food allergies exert a substantial negative impact on the mental, emotional, and social well-being of patients and their caregivers. Patients and caregivers often experience anxiety related to food allergies.
A prospective study published in the World Allergy Organization Journal assessed the real-world mental health burden of food allergies using the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) Patient Registry.
Patient Characteristics
The study included 1680 patients with food allergies from the FARE Patient Registry who completed a mental health survey. Over half of the patients (55%) were aged <1–17 years. Most patients were White (79%), and 61% were female.
The Significant Mental Health Burden of Food Allergies in Patients Revealed
The most common patient-reported emotions in response to eating the food that produced an allergic reaction were anxiety (54%) and panic (32%). Of 1680 patients, 1035 reported mental health concerns related to food allergies, including anxiety after an allergic reaction (46%) and anxiety about living with food allergies (55%). Mental health concerns were more common in patients with multiple food allergies than single food allergies, but similar between peanut, egg, tree nut, and milk allergens, and before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adult patients were more prone to anxiety around food allergies than were pediatric patients. Adults were also more likely to express additional concerns regarding underestimating the severity of their allergies and panic attacks.
Mental Health Concerns of Caregivers of Patients With Food Allergies
The most common concerns reported by caregivers were fear of trusting others with their child (56%), and fear for their child’s safety (56%). Mental health concerns were more common in caregivers of patients with multiple food allergies than single food allergies and were comparable before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 980 caregivers, 226 sought mental health care to cope with the worries around caring for patients with food allergies.
Predictors of Mental Health Concerns Identified in Patients With Food Allergies
Experiencing a higher number of allergic reactions per year was correlated with an increased likelihood of mental health concerns (1–3 reactions/month, odds ratio (OR): 1.90; 2–3 reactions/year, OR: 1.78; and ≥1 reaction/week, OR: 1.68; versus <1 reaction/year). Other significant predictors of mental health concerns were: single food allergy (versus multiple food allergies), not being admitted to the hospital (versus hospital admission for a reaction), a parent/caregiver completing the FARE survey (versus patient completing the survey), and being in a racial or ethnic minority (versus White race). Characteristics that correlated with a decreased likelihood of mental health concerns were being female (OR: 0.63) versus male and having a formal mental health diagnosis (OR: 0.43) versus no diagnosis.
Need for Mental Health Screening of Patients With Food Allergies
The findings of the study underscore the need for mental health screening in patients with food allergies. Although 30% of the patients were previously diagnosed with a mental health disorder, less than one in 10 patients reported being screened during any previous food allergy appointment. Of those who were screened, most were asked informal questions about their mental health, and less than one-quarter were assessed by a mental health professional.
Source:
Casale, T. B., Warren, C., Gupta, S., Schuldt, R., Wang, R., Iqbal, A., Seetasith, A., & Gupta, R. (2024). The mental health burden of food allergies: Insights from patients and their caregivers from the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Patient Registry. World Allergy Organization Journal, 17(4), 100891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.waojou.2024.100891
