title: Measurement of health-related quality of life in adult patients with birch pollen-associated food allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The "Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Adult Form" (FAQLQ-AF) is the first freely available questionnaire for the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in adults with food allergy (FA). We present validation data for the German version as well as data on HRQL in patients with birch pollen-associated FA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Dutch FAQLQ-AF (scale from 1-7, no impairment - maximum impairment) was translated into German. Subsequently, 73 consecutive patients with a history of birch pollen-associated FA (52 women, median age 43 years) were surveyed using questions regarding triggers and symptoms of their FA as well as questions contained in the FAQLQ-AF. Construct validity, internal consistency, and discriminative ability were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The foods most frequently reported to elicit allergic reactions included apple (78%), hazelnut (75%), soy drinks (55%), and carrot (52%). Thirty percent of patients exclusively reported symptoms consistent with oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Sixty-four percent reported OAS combined with systemic symptoms, and only 6% were exclusively affected by non-OAS symptoms. The German FAQLQ-AF showed good construct validity (correlation with the food allergy-independent measure: r = 0.81; p < 0.001) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbachs α = 0.98). The mean overall FAQLQ-AF score was 3.7. Women, elderly individuals, and those with multiple relevant food allergies showed a greater impairment of HRQL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The German FAQLQ-AF questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for measuring HRQL in patients with birch pollen-associated food allergy.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Beyer
authors: Center for Clinical Studies, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Annegret
authors: A
authors: Franke
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Jan Christoph
authors: JC
authors: Simon
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Treudler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult