title: The impact of double-blind placebo- controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) on the socioeconomic cost of food allergy in Europe.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Double-blind placebo controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the gold standard diagnostic test in food allergy because it minimizes diagnostic bias.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential effect of diagnosis on the socioeconomic costs of food allergy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective longitudinal cost analysis study was conducted in Spain and Poland within the EuroPrevall project. Food-allergic patients were enrolled into the study and in all cases diagnosis was confirmed through a standardized DBPCFC. Data were collected through a self-administered survey on all aspects of health and social care resource use, costs of living, and costs of leisure activities. Costs were measured before and 6 months after the DBPCFC and reported in international dollars with 2007 as the benchmark year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two patients were enrolled. Twenty-one patients had a negative DBPCFC and the suspected food was reintroduced into their diet. Comparing total direct costs before and after the DBPCFC, the reactive group spent a significantly higher amount (median increase of $813.1 over baseline), while the tolerant group's spending decreased by a median of $87.3 (P = .031). The amount of money spent on food 6 months after diagnosis was also significantly higher in the reactive group (P = .040). Finally, a larger, but not statistically significant, decrease in total indirect costs was observed in the tolerant group compared with the reactive group ($538.3 vs $32.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DBPCFC has an impact on indirect and direct costs of living. The main contribution to this increase was money spent on food.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Cerecedo
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Zamora
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fox
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Voordouw
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Plana
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rokicka
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fernandez-Rivas
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Vázquez Cortés
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Reche
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Fiandor
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kowalski
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Antonides
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mugford
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: Frewer
authors: B
authors: B
authors: De la Hoz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies