Parental perception of their child's Quality of Life in children with non-Immunoglobulin-E mediated gastrointestinal allergies

BACKGROUND: Food allergy can have a significant impact on health related quality of life (HRQoL). Parental proxy questionnaires are commonly used when children are too young to complete questionnaires themselves. Little data is available on HRQoL in children with non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy (GIFA). The aim of this study was to evaluate HRQoL in these children by parent proxy. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted with children 2-16 years old with confirmed (GIFA). Parents of these children completed the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL(™) ) and the Family Impact module of the PedsQL. The PedsQL scores were compared to two published cohorts: functional abdominal pain (FAP) and IgE-mediated food allergy. RESULTS: Fifty-two parents of children with GIFA completed the PedsQL(™) parent proxy. The GIFA cohort had significantly better overall HRQoL compared to the FAP cohort, but lower emotional functioning scores. The GIFA cohort also had poorer physical QoL compared to the IgE cohort (all p