VALIDATION OF A RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE VERSION OF THE VEINES-QOL/SYM QUESTIONNAIRE IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES AND LOWER EXTREMITY CHRONIC VENOUS DISEASES

Objective: to assess the psychometric properties (reliability, sensitivity, and validity) of a Russian-language version of the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire in patients with rheumatic diseases and lower extremity chronic venous diseases.

Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 89 patients (66 (74%) women and 23 (26%) men) (their mean age was 46.3±13.4 years) with rheumatic diseases. The majority (n=62 (70%)) of patients were recorded to have a history of one case of venous thrombosis of the lower extremity; the others (n=27 (30%)) had more than one case of thrombosis. To calculate the scores the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire, a standard method proposed by its authors was used. The patients filled out the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire thrice: on inclusion, at 2 weeks, and at 6 months.

Results and discussion. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient) of VEINES-QOL and VEINES-Sym was equal to 0.973 and 0.975, respectively, which reflects the high level of reliability. The coefficient κ varied from 0.825 to 1, which indicates good reproducibility (p < 0.001). The correlation coefficients of VEINES-QOL and VEINES-Sym with the physical component of SF36 were 0.59 and 0.42, and those with its psychological component were 0.42 and 0.35, respectively (p<0.05). The correlation coefficients of VEINES-QOL and VEINES-Sym with general health assessment on the visual analogue scale were -0.41 and -0.36, with a pain intensity of -0.56 and -0.46, respectively (p<0.05). The moderate relationships of VEINES-QOL and VEINES-Sym to the above parameters, as well as to the SF36 physical and psychological components suggest that the questionnaire is able to display quality of life in patients with rheumatic diseases and lower extremity venous diseases. The sensitivity of the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire was assessed after its completion, at baseline, and at 6 months. According to the presence or absence of positive postthrombotic changes, as evidenced by duplex ultrasound scanning (DUSS), all the patients were divided into two groups. Calculation of a 6-month change in VEINES-QOL scores revealed that Group 1 with positive DUSS changes showed better quality of life (ΔVEINES-QOL=0.95 [-2.8; 6.7]); at the same time, Group 2 with no or negative DUSS changes displayed worse quality of life (ΔVEINES-QOL=-1.71 [5.7; 3.27]; p = 0.06); this suggests that the questionnaire can be used for assessing the quality of life in patients with lower extremity venous diseases over time. Thus, the VEINES/Qol-Sym questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool. It can be used to assess quality of life over time in patients with rheumatic diseases and lower extremity chronic venous diseases. The investigation confirmed the good psychometric properties of the VEINES/Qol-Sym questionnaire.

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