According to a new 2012 Leger Marketing survey commissioned by Sanofi Canada, an alarming number of Canadians at risk of anaphylaxis do NOT always carry or have immediate access to an epinephrine auto-injector. And many are uncertain about how to correctly use the device.

Low level of compliance

The national survey of adults and parents of children at risk of anaphylaxis found that 57% overall do NOT always carry an epinephrine auto-injector as recommended by physicians.

By group, a surprising 63% of adult patients and 51% of parents with children at risk do NOT have an auto-injector immediately available at all times.

Research shows that most deaths associated with anaphylaxis have resulted from not having epinephrine readily available or delaying its use. 1

“At risk individuals should have an epinephrine auto-injector immediately available at all times,” explains Dr. Susan Waserman, a Canadian allergist and researcher. “But this survey tells us there are serious gaps. These individuals need to be better prepared.”

Although the precise number of people at risk of anaphylaxis is unknown, a recent publication found that approximately 7% (or about 2.5 million Canadians) self-report a food allergy. 2

Next: Uncertain about how to use
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1. Bock et al, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 2001 Jan v107 p 191

2. L. Soller et al, “Overall Prevalence of Self-reported Food Allergy in Canada”, JACI (2012). doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2012.06.029

Also of concern, 51 percent of parents of children at risk of this life-threatening form of allergic reaction do not have epinephrine available at all times, says the study released on Nov. 1. Anaphylactic reactions can come on very swiftly and incapacitate the allergic individual.

Because of this, allergist Dr. Susan Waserman notes that people at-risk of anaphylaxis are always meant to have an auto-injector with them. “But this survey tells us there are serious gaps,” she says. “These individuals need to be better prepared.”

The findings are from an online survey of 1,089 individuals who are either at risk of anaphylaxis or have a child who is at risk. The study, commissioned by the pharmaceutical company Sanofi Canada, has other interesting results about attitudes toward using auto-injectors in an emergency.

Read the press release here.