• health-related quality of life
• adults
• eosinophilic esophagitis

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated esophageal disease characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. Despite being described for the first time not even 30 years ago, its incidence has grown so much that it has become one of the major causes of dysphagia in both adults and children. In adult patients the main symptoms are chronic dysphagia and bolus impact, while children usually present with vomiting, food rejection, abdominal pain, symptoms of acid reflux and failure to thrive. In recent years it has emerged that patients with EoE experience a high burden of disease, which negatively affects their psycho-social well-being and quality of life, but few data are available in this regard.
Aim of the study: in this prospective cross-sectional observational study the aim was to assess Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adult patients with EoE and to identify determinant factors of impaired HRQoL, including the effect of dietary restriction.
Materials and methods: seventy patients (55 men, 15 women) with a median age of 33.4 were recruited. Demographic data, EoE symptoms at onset, allergic background and current therapy were collected in a standardized manner. HRQoL was assessed using the EoE-QoL-A questionnaire. Statistical significance was considered for p values ​​<0.05. Patients were divided in 2 groups: Group A, with dietary restriction therapy; Group B, without dietary restriction therapy.
Results: food impaction, higher education level, dietary restriction, length of disease evolution were the strongest determinants for a worse EoE-QoL-A score, but diet-based therapy did not contribute to a worse EoE-QoL-A score overall.
We confirmed the importance of assessing HRQoL in EoE to fully understand disease burden, identify patients at risk of poor QoL, quantify clinical outcomes, and to achieve the greatest well-being possible. Further studies are required to better elucidate these aspects.