IgE-mediated food allergy represents a critical global health issue and a considerable societal challenge, particularly in Europe. Affecting 6%-8% of children under three and 2-3% of adults, it significantly deteriorates the quality of life for individuals with food allergies (FA), influencing healthcare, and the food and catering industries. Despite ongoing studies and the development of new treatments, the diversity of study outcomes complicates evidence synthesis, challenging the comparison of findings and conducting meta-analyses, which in turn obstructs evidence-based decision-making.
Dr. Jennifer Protudjer, CHRIM Researcher, and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba, and Michael Golding, CHRIM Research Coordinator in the Protudjer lab, contributed to the ‘COMFA’ project, published today in Allergy, European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The project involved a review of published clinical trials, trial protocols and qualitative literature. Outcomes found as a result of review were categorized and classified, informing a two-round online-modified Delphi process followed by hybrid consensus meeting to finalize the Core Outcome Set (COS).
A total of 778 participants from 52 countries participates, with 442 participating in both Delphi rounds. No outcome met a priori criteria for inclusion, and one was excluded as a result of the Delphi. Thirteen outcomes were brought to the hybrid consensus meeting as a result of Delphi and two outcomes, ‘allergic symptoms’ and ‘quality of life’ achieved consensus for inclusion as ‘core’ outcomes.
The study concluded that in addition to the mandatory reporting of adverse events for FA clinical trails or observational studies of interventions, allergic symptoms and quality of life should be measured as core outcomes. Future work by COMFA will define how best to measure these core outcomes.
Source: CHRIM