Relationships between QoL, mental health, demographic and clinical variables
Poorer anaphylaxis specific QoL (as measured by the A-QoL-Adults) significantly related to greater anxiety, depression, stress and poorer generic physical, psychological, social and environmental QoL (Table 3). Those of a younger age, those who had experienced a greater number of anaphylactic reactions and those who carried their AAI more frequently reported significantly poorer anaphylaxis specific QoL (Table 3).
Females reported significantly poorer anaphylaxis specific QoL (mean=2.50, SD=0.93) compared to males (mean=1.73, SD=0.75), t=-5.09(123.01), p<0.001. There were no significant differences for ethnicity between White and Indian/Pakistani ethnic groups (further analysis based on ethnicity was not possible due to the low numbers in other groups).
Severity of anaphylaxis was graded using the Brown grading system20. There was no significant difference in anaphylaxis specific QoL for those with a mild to moderate rating compared to those with a severe rating. Those with other atopic conditions (such as hay-fever or allergies to animals or house dust mite) reported poorer anaphylaxis specific QoL (mean=2.34, SD=.93) than those with no other atopic conditions (mean=1.98, SD=.94), t=2.14(123), p<0.05.