title: Health-related quality of life in Polish adolescents with Hymenoptera venom allergy treated with venom immunotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venom allergy, though rare, may seriously influence health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There is a paucity of research on HRQoL of adolescents and young adults with Hymenoptera venom allergy. The aim was to assess the level of HRQoL and to evaluate its independent predictors in Polish adolescents and young adults treated with venom immunotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter cross-sectional study based on the Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (VQLQ) adapted for Polish adolescents was used. The study sample included 87 patients (14-21 years) studied at different stages of venom immunotherapy (VIT). Statistical analysis was done with multivariate linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxiety level was higher in patients with 4(th) grade of Mueller's classification (anaphylactic shock) than in those with 3(rd) grade (B = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.07-1.61, p = 0.03). Caution increased along with an increase of anxiety of adolescents treated with VIT (B = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.39-0.68, p < 0.01). Level of limitations increased with increasing caution of adolescents (B = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.35-0.91, p < 0.01). Discomfort increased along with a rise of caution of patients (B = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.22-0.55, p < 0.01). Similarly, it increased with an increase of their feeling of limitations (B = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.23-0.51, p < 0.01). The level of discomfort in adolescents treated with VIT was lower in those who were treated with conventional protocol in comparison to those treated with rush or ultra-rush ones (B = -0.47, 95% CI = -0.90 - -0.03, p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severity of anaphylactic reaction is an independent determinant of anxiety level in adolescents treated with VIT. The VIT protocol affects HRQoL of treated patients.
authors: Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Cichocka-Jarosz
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Brzyski
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Swiebocka
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Lange
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Tobiasz-Adamczyk
authors: Grzegorz
authors: G
authors: Lis
authors: Urszula
authors: U
authors: Jedynak-Wąsowicz
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Kulus
authors: Maciej
authors: M
authors: Kaczmarski
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Małaczyńska
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Klajna-Kraluk
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Bręborowicz
authors: Zdzisława
authors: Z
authors: Kycler
authors: Jacek J
authors: JJ
authors: Pietrzyk
keywords: Vespid Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire; disease burden; insect allergy