Work

Severity assessment of food allergies according to DEFASE criteria in the German healthcare system (d-DEFASE)

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Summary Background There is currently no standardized evaluation system in Germany for defining and classifying the severity of IgE-mediated food allergies (FA). Following the development of the international classification system named DEFASE (Definition of Food Allergy Severity), this evaluation system is now also being introduced in Germany and its applicability in the German healthcare system is being tested. Methods An international consensus was reached on DEFASE through a two-stage process (systematic literature review followed by an e‑Delphi). Conclusion The DEFASE score is the first comprehensive classification of the severity of a FA that takes into account not only the severity of an individual reaction, but the entire scenario of the disease, including the clinical features alongside patient’s reported outcomes and economic burden. It is important that an international consensus has been reached on a scoring system for FA, which can now also be used in Germany as d‑DEFASE. The scoring system is currently tested in research projects to be introduced soon into clinical practice, targeting these models to various food allergenic sources, populations, and settings.

Source: Allergo Journal International

DOI: 10.1007/s40629-025-00334-y