Allergic reactions are a result of the body's immune system being too sensitive to a substance, such as peanuts, and treating it as though it is unsafe to the body. The result of the body's reaction to the 'harmful' substance can range from mild (itching or coughing) to fatal (anaphylactic shock). Peanut allergies usually first appear in childhood and remain into adulthood. Those with peanut allergy often have other allergies and related conditions such as eczema or asthma that are linked to the body's over-sensitivity.
The aim of this study is to use CPRD data to discover how many people in a UK population have an allergy to peanuts, how they are treated and how their health is affected by the condition. We will calculate how many people with peanut allergy have other allergies and atopic conditions and compare their healthcare costs with those of matched patients without peanut allergy. We will also describe the use of adrenaline and antihistamine therapies for peanut allergy.
These findings may improve our understanding of how many people are affected by peanut allergy and of how it is treated.
This study aims to calculate the difference in cost of healthcare services in those patients with and without peanut allergy. The objectives are to identify a population with peanut allergy and to describe the prevalence of the condition. We then wish to use a retrospective matched cohort design to evaluate the impact of peanut allergy on healthcare resource use and cost, mortality, and the prevalence of other allergies and atopic conditions. We will also characterize the use of adrenaline and antihistamine therapies for peanut allergy.
Peanut allergy will be identified from CPRD GOLD and HES inpatient data, and patients with peanut allergy will be matched 1:1 with two reference groups of non-exposed patients. The first reference group will be matched on age, sex, practice, year of registration, and linkage status; the second on the same criteria plus atopic status.
Comparisons of rates and costs of health services between cohorts will use Mann-Whitney U-test. Time to death for patients with peanut allergy compared to reference cohorts will be compared using a Cox proportional hazards model. Annual prevalence rates for peanut allergy will be split by age and gender, using the number of research-quality patients registered at each year's midpoint as the denominator. A table of causes of death and prescriptions will be presented non-comparatively.
Prevalence of peanut allergy
- Prescribed treatment for peanut allergy
- NHS resource use and costs associated with peanut allergy
- Mortality and cause of death in peanut allergy
Craig Currie - Chief Investigator - Cardiff University
Laura Scott - Corresponding Applicant - Pharmatelligence Limited t/a Human Data Sciences
Christopher Morgan - Collaborator - Pharmatelligence Limited t/a Human Data Sciences
HES Accident and Emergency;HES Accident and Emergency;HES Admitted Patient Care;HES Admitted Patient Care;HES Outpatient;HES Outpatient;ONS Death Registration Data;ONS Death Registration Data