Content and construct validity of the Rheumatic Diseases Comorbidity Index in patients with gout

B. Spaetgens*, J.M.A. Wijnands, C. van Durme, A. Boonen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective. Gout has been associated with a large number of co-morbidities. As yet, no co-morbidity measure has been validated for use in clinical studies in gout. This study aims to evaluate the content and construct validity of the Rheumatic Diseases Comorbidity Index (RDCI) and a gout-specifically modified RDCI (mRDCI) in patients with gout.

Methods. In a cross-sectional sample of 122 patients with gout, data on co-morbidities were obtained during an interview, chart review and clinical examination. The data were used to compute the RDCI/mRDCI, a simple co-morbidity count, the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI). Content and construct validity was explored by assessing Spearman correlations between the two RDCI versions and between RDCI/mRDCI and the other co-morbidity indices, as well as demographic and clinical outcomes. In addition, we assessed the independent association between the RDCI/mRDCI and physical functioning (HAQ disability index), physical health (36-Item Short Form Health Survey) and direct health care and non-health care costs using multivariable regression analyses.

Results. The correlation between the RDCI and mRDCI was 0.86. Correlations between the RDCI/mRDCI and simple co-morbidity count, CCI or FCI varied between 0.72 and 0.88. Correlations with generic and gout-specific health outcomes were moderate and weak, respectively, with slightly better results for the mRDCI. Multivariable analyses showed that both the RDCI and mRDCI contributed to the variation in physical functioning, physical health and direct health care and non-health care costs.

Conclusion. Both the RDCI and mRDCI have appropriate content and construct validity to evaluate the influence of co-morbidity on outcome in patients with gout.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1659-1663
Number of pages5
JournalRheumatology
Volume54
Issue number9
Early online date17 Apr 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2015

Keywords

  • gout
  • co-morbidities
  • Rheumatic Diseases Comorbidity Index
  • physical function
  • HRQOL
  • QUALITY-OF-LIFE
  • ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE
  • GENERAL-POPULATION
  • HEALTH SURVEY
  • RISK-FACTORS
  • DUTCH
  • HYPERURICEMIA
  • TRANSLATION
  • VALIDATION
  • SF-36

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