Introduction: Allergy is broadly defined however there are inconsistent perceptions of the term between health care professionals and laymen. These inconsistent understandings cause difficulties in handling the disease in a health politically perspective. This is problematic because literature on allergy describes that the quality of life among allergic sufferers is lower compared to non-allergics.

Purpose: Development of a qualified decision basis for the decision makers responsible of health prevention in the North Denmark region, including recommendations of prevention efforts in order to increase quality of life among allergy sufferers by prioritization of secondary and tertiary prevention.

Methods: To illustrate the extent of the economic burden associated with allergies in the region is performed a cost of illness analysis. This is built on data from Sundhedsprofil 2013 – Trivsel, sundhed og sygdom i Nordjylland. Statistical analysis is used to illustrate characteristics of allergy sufferers and the relation between allergy and quality of life. This is built on data from Sundhedsprofil 2010 – Trivsel, sundhed og sygdom i Nordjylland. Furthermore, a systematic literature research is performed concerning reasons for the lower quality of life among allergy sufferers.

Results: Allergy sufferers are generally associated with higher costs relative to non-allergics, this on the parameters of services of general practitioners and of prescription drugs. Furthermore, allergy sufferers have a lower quality of life of 0.016 QALY relative to non-allergics. As a result, there is incentive for decision-makers in the North Denmark region to increase focus on secondary and tertiary prevention interventions for allergy. These can be targeted at younger rather than older citizens and citizens with higher education rather than lower as allergy sufferers are more often found in these groups. Literature finds that the causes of lower quality of life among allergy sufferers are due to physical and mental symptoms. Efforts should therefore be aimed at preventing these symptoms, though considering intended and unintended consequences of efforts. This project results in two preventive efforts targeting allergy sufferer, including increased diagnosis of allergy and patient education of allergy sufferers.

Conclusions: Increased diagnosis is recommended to eliminate or reduce physical symptoms and thereby the reasons for allergy sufferers lower quality of life. Patient education of allergy sufferers is recommended to eliminate or reduce the psychological symptoms caused by allergies and thereby the reasons for allergy sufferer’s lower quality of life.