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Validation of the Dutch version of the VascuQol questionnaire and the Amsterdam linear disability score in patients with intermittent claudication

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the vascular quality of life questionnaire (VascuQol) and the AMC Linear Disability Score (ALDS) in patients with stable intermittent claudication (IC).

Methods

During a 5-month period we performed a prospective study in which we included every patient with stable IC, who visited our vascular surgery outpatient clinic and consented to participate. Forty consecutive patients filled in the Dutch VascuQol, the ALDS, and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Twenty patients filled in the same questionnaires after 4 weeks. Internal reliability consistencies were expressed as Cronbach’s α. Test–retest reliability was expressed as intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Construct validity was expressed as Spearman rho correlations between SF-36 and relevant domains of Dutch VascuQol and the ALDS.

Results

Internal reliability consistencies were, respectively, good and excellent for the total scores of VascuQol, SF-36, and ALDS (Cronbach’s α. 0.87, 0.89, and 0.92). Test–retest reliability was excellent for the total VascuQol scores [ICC 0.91 (95% CI, 0.78–0.96)], and for the ALDS [ICC 0.90 (95% CI, 0.76–0.96)]. Spearman correlations between VascuQol, ALDS, and SF-36 domains varied from r = 0.34–0.79.

Conclusion

The Dutch VascuQol is a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessment of Qol in patients with IC. This study confirms the good clinimetric properties of the ALDS for assessing disability in patients with IC.

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Abbreviations

IC:

Intermittent claudication

PAD:

Peripheral arterial disease

ABPI:

Ankle-brachial pressure index

HS:

Health Status

Qol:

Quality of life

FS:

Functional status

SF-36:

Short Form 36

VascuQol:

Vascular quality of life questionnaire

CLI:

Critical limb ischemia

ADL:

Activities of daily life

ALDS:

AMC linear disability score item bank

IRT:

Item response theory

PTA:

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

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Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Franceline Alkine Frans, Suzanne E. van Wijngaarden, Rosemarie Met & Mark J. W. Koelemay

Authors
  1. Franceline Alkine Frans
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  2. Suzanne E. van Wijngaarden
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  3. Rosemarie Met
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  4. Mark J. W. Koelemay
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franceline Alkine Frans.

Additional information

F. A. Frans, S. E. van Wijngaarden contributed equally to this work

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 5.

Table 5 ALDS: selection of 28 items for patients with intermittent claudication
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Frans, F.A., van Wijngaarden, S.E., Met, R. et al. Validation of the Dutch version of the VascuQol questionnaire and the Amsterdam linear disability score in patients with intermittent claudication. Qual Life Res 21, 1487–1493 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-011-0060-z

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