Food allergies in older people: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Although the global prevalence of food allergies has been reported as increasing, its study is still largely confined to children and young adults. Nevertheless, several age-related factors (e.g., gastrointestinal changes, inflammation, and immunosenescence), responsible for the so-called ‘anorexia of aging’, may potentially mask, mediate, and/or enhance food allergies symptoms in older people. Although still neglected, the topic is critical for older persons who might be exposed to the risk of nutritional deficiencies and undernutrition if the primary and safest strategy for the food allergies management (i.e., allergen avoidance) is inappropriately conducted. Aim: To describe the protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at estimating the prevalence of food allergies in older people. Methods: The literature search will consider multiple databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Search dates will be from the inception. Studies reporting the prevalence of food allergies in individuals aged 60 years and older will be considered. Only English-language studies will be included. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists for Prevalence and Cohort Studies will be used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines will be followed in the reporting. This protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023445399). Given the expected clinical and methodological heterogeneity among the primary studies, meta-analyses will be performed using a random-effect model. Results: Not applicable. Conclusions: The present article describes the protocol of a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of food allergies in older people.