Compared to non-allergic individuals, food allergic individuals have impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, effects of gender and age are unclear. The objective of our study was to describe associations between allergies to common foods and HRQL with consideration to gender and age. Adolescents and adults (N = 137; 49.6% males) with specialist-diagnosed allergy to milk, egg and/or wheat completed age-appropriate versions of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (FAQLQ). We pooled common questions and calculated overall- and domain-specific HRQL in association with number and severity of symptoms and time elapse since worst reaction. In the entire study population, HRQL was not affected by gender or age, whereas gender-specific age categories affected HRQL among males only. For example, males 18–39 years had worse overall- (β = 0.77; 95% CI 0.08–1.45) and domain-specific HRQL vs. males < 18 years. Among participants with 1–3 food allergy symptoms, no associations were found. Among participants with 4–6 symptoms, the domain allergen avoidance and dietary restrictions was worse among older participants (e.g. 40+ years: β = 0.71; 95% CI 0.05–1.37 vs. < 18 years), and males 18–39 vs. < 18 years. Among participants with severe symptoms, females vs. males, and participants 18–39 vs. < 18 years had worse HRQL. At least 4 years since worst reaction was associated with worse HRQL for participants 40+ years vs. < 18 years, and older males vs. males < 18 years. Nearly all differences exceeded the clinical relevance threshold of ≥ 0.5. Associations between allergies to common foods and HRQL are affected by gender and age. Most affected are males 18–39 years. Among females, HRQL is more stable across age groups.

中文翻译：

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在向自我管理过渡期间与食物过敏相关的问题

与非过敏个体相比，食物过敏个体的健康相关生活质量 (HRQL) 受损。然而，性别和年龄的影响尚不清楚。我们研究的目的是描述对常见食物过敏和 HRQL 之间的关联，同时考虑到性别和年龄。经专家诊断对牛奶、鸡蛋和/或小麦过敏的青少年和成人（N = 137；49.6% 男性）完成了适合年龄的食物过敏生活质量问卷 (FAQLQ)。我们汇总了常见问题，并计算了与症状的数量和严重程度以及自最严重反应以来经过的时间相关的整体和特定领域的 HRQL。在整个研究人群中，HRQL 不受性别或年龄的影响，而特定性别的年龄类别仅影响男性的 HRQL。例如，18-39 岁的男性总体上（β = 0.77；95% CI 0.08-1.45）和特定领域的 HRQL 与小于 18 岁的男性相比更差。在有 1-3 种食物过敏症状的参与者中，未发现相关性。在有 4-6 种症状的参与者中，年龄较大的参与者（例如 40 岁以上：β = 0.71；95% CI 0.05-1.37 vs. < 18 岁）和男性 18-39 岁 vs. < 18 岁。在症状严重的参与者中，女性与男性，以及 18-39 岁与 <18 岁的参与者的 HRQL 较差。对于 40 岁以上的参与者与 <18 岁的参与者，以及年龄较大的男性与小于 18 岁的男性，自最差反应以来至少 4 年与较差的 HRQL 相关。几乎所有差异都超过了≥0.5的临床相关性阈值。对常见食物过敏和 HRQL 之间的关联受性别和年龄的影响。受影响最大的是 18-39 岁的男性。在女性中，HRQL 在不同年龄组中更为稳定。