Food Allergy Reaction Severity and Management in a Diverse Population

Area of Science:

• Allergy and Immunology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Definitive treatment for food allergy reactions, including anaphylaxis, varies by severity and socioeconomic status.
• Limited data exist on the relationship between food allergy severity, management, race, and ethnicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze differences in food allergy reaction severity, epinephrine use, and emergency room (ER) utilization based on race and ethnicity.
• To investigate disparities in food allergy care within a diverse cohort.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of intake data from the Food Allergy Outcomes Related to White and African-American Racial Differences cohort.
• Utilized descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistic/Poisson models to assess disparities.

Main Results:

• Non-Hispanic Black children showed increased odds of severe reactions (OR 1.7) and ER visits (OR 2.8).
• Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino children had lower rates of lifetime epinephrine use (IRR 0.4 and 0.3, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Significant racial and ethnic disparities impact food allergy reaction severity and treatment, leading to increased ER use and reduced epinephrine administration.
• Providing resources for parents on food allergy management may reduce disparities in accessing definitive care.