BACKGROUND

Awareness about food allergy and food-induced anaphylaxis (FIA) has increased dramatically over the past decade. It remains unclear, however, whether concordance with guidelines for FIA management has improved over time.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to describe changes in emergency department (ED) concordance with guidelines for FIA management.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 2 multicenter retrospective studies of patients with food-related acute allergic reactions seen in 1 of 17 EDs during 2 time periods: 1999 to 2001 and 2013 to 2015. Visits were identified similarly across years-for example, using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 693.1, 995.60, 995.61-995.69, 995.0, and 995.3. Anaphylaxis was defined as an acute allergic reaction with involvement of 2+ organ systems or hypotension. We compared concordance between time periods for 4 guideline recommendations: (1) treatment with epinephrine, (2) discharge prescription for an epinephrine autoinjector (EAI), (3) referral to an allergist/immunologist, and (4) instructions to avoid offending allergen.

RESULTS

We compared 290 patients with FIA during 1999 to 2001 and 459 during 2013 to 2015. Any treatment with epinephrine (pre-ED or in the ED) for patients with FIA increased over time (38% vs 56%; P < .001). Prescriptions for EAI at discharge (24% vs 54%; P < .001) and documentation for referral to an allergist/immunologist (14% vs 24%; P = .001) approximately doubled, whereas instructions to avoid the offending allergen did not change significantly (37% vs 43%; P = .08). Receipt of 3+ guideline recommendations remained low but almost quadrupled over the study interval (6% vs 23%; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the nearly 15-year study interval, we observed clinically and statistically significant increases in ED concordance with epinephrine-related guidelines for FIA. Management gaps remain and interventions to standardize care still appear warranted.