Abstract
Background. Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially
life-threatening allergic reaction which has a detrimental impact on
quality of life (QoL), however little is known about the impact of
anaphylaxis, across the various causes, on adults. The aim of this study
was to assess the impact of anaphylaxis on QoL and mental health in
adults. Methods. Participants (n=142; 60% female) were
recruited from a regional allergy centre (Birmingham, U.K) following
systematic specialist evaluation. They completed measures of generic QoL
(WHOQoL BREF), anaphylaxis specific QoL (A-QoL-Adults), anxiety and
depression (HADS) and stress (PSS). Results. Anaphylaxis
triggers were mainly to medication or during general anaesthesia
(29.6%), food (29.6%), wasp or bee venom (16.2%), or were spontaneous
(21.1%). Adults with anaphylaxis had significantly poorer general QoL
and stress than published data from a healthy population. Females had
significantly poorer anxiety and depression than norm data (all
p<0.01). Poorer anaphylaxis specific QoL was significantly
related to greater stress, depression, anxiety, poorer general QoL and
demographic and clinical variables such as age, gender, severity of
anaphylaxis, presence of other atopic conditions (all p<0.05).
Regression analysis showed that anxiety, depression and number of
anaphylactic reactions were significant predictors for anaphylaxis
specific QoL. Conclusions. Anaphylaxis has an adverse impact on
QoL and mental health of adults across different triggers. Anxiety,
depression and number of reactions in particular seem to be important in
explaining the impact on QoL and should be of particular note for
clinicians managing adults with this condition, and when considering
specialist psychological support.