Altenburg Josje, Wortel Kim, de Graaff Casper S, van der Werf Tjip S, Boersma Wim G
Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Alkmaar Medical Centre, Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Clin Respir J. 2016 Mar;10(2):168-75. doi: 10.1111/crj.12198. Epub 2014 Sep 4.
Quality of life in patients with non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis is largely defined by respiratory symptoms. To date, no disease-specific tool for symptom measurement in this patient group was available. We developed the lower respiratory tract infections - visual analogue scale (LRTI-VAS) in order to quickly and conveniently quantify symptoms in non-CF bronchiectasis. This study aimed to validate LRTI-VAS for use in non-CF bronchiectasis.
This study included outpatients with radiologically proven bronchiectasis and no evidence of CF. Results of LRTI-VAS were compared with other markers of disease activity {lung function parameters, oxygen saturation and three health-related quality of life questionnaires [Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ)]} and validity, reliability and responsiveness were assessed.
Thirty stable and 30 exacerbating participants completed the LRTI-VAS questionnaire. When testing for repeatability on two separate occasions, no statistically significant difference between total scores was found {1.4 [standard deviation (SD)] 5.3}, P = 0.16). Internal consistency was high across items (Cronbach's alpha 0.86). Correlation with SGRQ, SF-36 and LCQ total scores was high. Following antibiotic treatment, mean (SD) LRTI-VAS total score improved from 18.1 (SD 9.9) to 26.1 (SD 6.6) (P < 0.001).
LRTI-VAS showed excellent validity, reliability and responsiveness to change and therefore appears a reliable tool for symptom measurement in non-CF bronchiectasis.
非囊性纤维化（非CF）支气管扩张患者的生活质量很大程度上由呼吸道症状决定。迄今为止，尚无针对该患者群体症状测量的疾病特异性工具。我们开发了下呼吸道感染视觉模拟量表（LRTI-VAS），以便快速便捷地量化非CF支气管扩张患者的症状。本研究旨在验证LRTI-VAS在非CF支气管扩张中的应用。
本研究纳入了经放射学证实患有支气管扩张且无CF证据的门诊患者。将LRTI-VAS的结果与其他疾病活动指标{肺功能参数、血氧饱和度以及三份与健康相关的生活质量问卷[医学结局研究简明健康调查（SF-36）、圣乔治呼吸问卷（SGRQ）和莱斯特咳嗽问卷（LCQ）]}进行比较，并评估其有效性、可靠性和反应性。
30名病情稳定和30名病情加重的参与者完成了LRTI-VAS问卷。在两次单独测试重复性时，总分之间未发现统计学上的显著差异{1.4[标准差（SD）]5.3}，P = 0.16）。各项目间的内部一致性较高（Cronbach's α 0.86）。与SGRQ、SF-36和LCQ总分的相关性较高。抗生素治疗后，LRTI-VAS总分的均值（SD）从18.1（SD 9.9）提高到26.1（SD 6.6）（P < 0.001）。
LRTI-VAS显示出优异的有效性、可靠性和对变化的反应性，因此似乎是一种用于测量非CF支气管扩张症状的可靠工具。
