Validation of the Finnish version of the food allergy quality of life questionnaire-parent form (F-FAQLQ-PF).

AIM: Specific questionnaires about food allergy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been developed and validated in several languages, but not Finnish. We aimed to validate the Finnish Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) for children under age 13 years. METHODS: The original FAQLQ-PF and Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) were translated into Finnish per World Health Organisation guidelines and tested by 72 parents of children under age 13 years with suspected severe peanut or tree nut allergy who were recruited at Allergy Centre in Tampere University Hospital in Tampere, Finland. We calculated the construct validity of the questionnaire by calculating the coefficients between the two measures and used Cronbach's alpha to establish the internal consistency. RESULTS: The FAQLQ-PF showed strong correlations with domain structure and internal consistency, based on Spearman's correlations (rho) for the HRQoL questions, FAIM questions and FAIM mean values. The total questionnaire score correlated significantly with the mean FAIM (rho = 0.95, p < 0.001) and individual FAIM questions. The FAQLQ-PF and domains had good or excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha >0.70). CONCLUSION: The Finnish FAQLQ-PF demonstrated good construct validity and excellent internal consistency for measuring food allergy HRQoL in children under age 13 years.

Hospitalizations due to allergic reactions in Finnish and Swedish children during 1999-2011.

BACKGROUND: Several authors have reported on allergic reactions that resulted in presentation to the emergency department. However, studies of the secular trend of hospitalizations for paediatric allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the secular trends of hospitalizations for allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, among children aged 0-19 years in Finland and Sweden, and to establish the trend of prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors (EAI) among paediatric populations. METHODS: Using national databases, we identified hospitalizations between 1999 and 2011 with the primary diagnosis of allergic reaction per International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. RESULTS: Hospitalizations for allergic reactions totalled 1987 in Finland and 5433 in Sweden. Incidence rates increased in both countries. In Finland, the incidence of admission was 7.8 per 100 000 person-years at the start of the study period and 15.8 at the end of the study period. The corresponding numbers among Swedish children were 13.7 and 31.8 per 100 000 person-years. In Finland, 60% of children hospitalized were aged under 10 years. In Sweden, this proportion was somewhat lower, at 48%. Most hospitalizations occurred between May and September. The prevalence of EAI prescriptions in Finland increased by fourfold during the study period. In Sweden, such an increase was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of allergic reactions leading to hospitalizations between 1999 and 2011 increased in Finland and Sweden among children aged 0 to 19 years. In Finland, the incidence was lower throughout the study period compared to Sweden. Younger children constituted the majority of hospitalized children.

Incidence of poisoning deaths in Finland in 1971-2005.

Poisonings cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, only few countries have published nationwide statistics on poisoning deaths. Based on the Official Cause-of-Death Statistics of Finland, we investigated the incidence and secular trend of poisoning deaths in Finland in 1971-2005. Alcohol poisoning deaths and other poisoning deaths were analyzed separately. During the 35-year study period, other poisoning deaths (non-alcohol) increased from 2.6/100,000 in men and 1.4/100,000 in women in 1971 to 6.8/100,000 and 3.2/100,000 in 2005, respectively. Alcohol poisoning death rates also increased from 9.6/100,000 in men and 0.7/100,000 in women in 1971 to 16.8/100,000 and 4.2/100,000 in 2005, respectively. In the early 1970s, the incidence rates of alcohol deaths were about 10 times higher in men compared with women, whereas in the last few years of observation, men's incidence rate was only about four times higher. Our study showed that alcohol and other poisoning deaths increased in Finland between 1971 and 2005. Men's risk was markedly higher than women's risk, but in the later years, women's risk was increasing. Poisoning death rates among children and adolescents were low throughout the period.