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Evaluation of the properties of WHODAS-12 measurements in individuals with Chagas disease in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Numerous tests employed to predict cardiac and functional status are expensive and not widely accessible for a considerable number of patients, particularly those diagnosed with Chagas disease (CD) residing in remote and endemic regions. To date, there is no knowledge of studies that have validated instruments that address functionality in an expanded way, including the biopsychosocial factors in patients with CD. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), in its 12-item shortened version (WHODAS-12) when applied to patients with CD. This is a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort that follows individuals with CD (SaMi-Trop). Data collection took place between October 2019 and March 2020. In the interviews, sociodemographic information, life habits, clinical information, and indicators of disability measured by WHODAS-12 were collected. Descriptive analysis, internal consistency and construct validity of the instrument were performed. A total of 628 patients with CD were interviewed, most were women (69.5%), their mean age was of 57 years, and most declared an average self-perception of health (43.4%). The 12 items of WHODAS-12 were distributed into three factors, which together account for 61% of the variance. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) index was 0.90, indicating adequacy of the sample for factor analysis. The internal consistency of the global scale showed alpha = 0.87. The percentage of incapacity was 16.05%, indicating mild incapacity for the evaluated patients. WHODAS-12 is a valid and reliable measure to assess the disability of the Brazilian population with CD.

Validation study; Disability and health; Chagas disease; International Classification of Functioning; Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION

More than a hundred years after its discovery, Chagas disease (CD) continues to be a health problem for most Latin American countries and non-endemic countries11. Bern C. Chagas’ disease. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:456-66.,22. Dias JC, Ramos Jr AN, Gontijo ED, Luquetti A, Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Coura JR, et al. II Consenso Brasileiro em Doença de Chagas, 2015. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2015;25 N esp:7-86.. CD has two clinical phases, one acute and one chronic. The acute phase is characterized by mild or nonspecific symptoms of fever, malaise, hepatosplenomegaly, and in some cases, it may be accompanied by skin nodules, generalized pain and Romaña’s sign11. Bern C. Chagas’ disease. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:456-66.,22. Dias JC, Ramos Jr AN, Gontijo ED, Luquetti A, Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Coura JR, et al. II Consenso Brasileiro em Doença de Chagas, 2015. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2015;25 N esp:7-86.. The chronic phase can be asymptomatic for long periods and even for life, but when symptomatic, it can present cardiac and digestive changes as well as physical, emotional, and social impacts that can affect both the patient and their family members33. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégico. Protocolo clínico e diretrizes terapêuticas: doença de Chagas. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2018.. In the Brazilian context, CD has an incidence rate of 1.85% and approximately 20 to 30% progress to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy, which is the most severe form of the disease11. Bern C. Chagas’ disease. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:456-66.

2. Dias JC, Ramos Jr AN, Gontijo ED, Luquetti A, Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Coura JR, et al. II Consenso Brasileiro em Doença de Chagas, 2015. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2015;25 N esp:7-86.
-33. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégico. Protocolo clínico e diretrizes terapêuticas: doença de Chagas. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2018..

Cardiac alterations resulting from CD are associated with functional impairment, which can negatively interfere with individuals’ daily life activities, especially at work and in patients’ quality of life44. Quintino ND, Sabino EC, Silva JL, Ribeiro AL, Ferreira AM, Davi GL, et al. Factors associated with quality of life in patients with Chagas disease: SaMi-Trop project. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020;14:e0008144.,55. Costa HS, Lima MM, Vieira CF, Silva WT, Nunes MC, Rocha MO, et al. Assessment of functional performance in Chagas heart disease by Human Activity Profile questionnaire. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43:1255-9.. Many instruments are used to assess the cardiac and functional condition of this population, such as the cardiopulmonary exercise test and the treadmill test, the first being the gold standard used for this assessment55. Costa HS, Lima MM, Vieira CF, Silva WT, Nunes MC, Rocha MO, et al. Assessment of functional performance in Chagas heart disease by Human Activity Profile questionnaire. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43:1255-9.. However, both tests have a high financial cost in addition to their low availability in remote regions, a reality for many patients, especially those with CD66. Costa HS, Lima MM, Figueiredo PH, Rocha MO. Novel physiotherapies in the setting of Chagas heart disease: a summarized review of functional evaluation. J Nov Physiother. 2018;8:378.,77. Cardoso CS, Sabino EC, Oliveira CL, Oliveira LC, Ferreira AM, Cunha-Neto E, et al. Longitudinal study of patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy in Brazil (SaMi-Trop project): a cohort profile. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e011181..

Thus, the use of simple tools such as scales and questionnaires has been increasingly used in clinical practice and in research that assesses the functionality of patients88. Karloh M, Palú M, Mayer AF. Métodos de avaliação da capacidade funcional em pacientes com DPOC. ConScientiae Saude. 2014;13:633-9. These instruments are low-cost and practical, and they are capable of assessing the patient’s performance, perception of health, quality of life and day-to-day functional limitations44. Quintino ND, Sabino EC, Silva JL, Ribeiro AL, Ferreira AM, Davi GL, et al. Factors associated with quality of life in patients with Chagas disease: SaMi-Trop project. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020;14:e0008144.,99. Farias N, Buchalla CM. A classificação internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde da organização mundial da saúde: conceitos, usos e perspectivas. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2005;8:187-93..

Functional impairment is considered a multidimensional construct and the result of the interaction of biological, personal, and social factors99. Farias N, Buchalla CM. A classificação internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde da organização mundial da saúde: conceitos, usos e perspectivas. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2005;8:187-93.. Since 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a biopsychosocial model as a theoretical basis for the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)1010. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: WHO; 2001.. This model incorporated these premises and promoted a combination of biomedical and social models, addressing the interaction of different components that influence the performance of daily life activities99. Farias N, Buchalla CM. A classificação internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde da organização mundial da saúde: conceitos, usos e perspectivas. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2005;8:187-93., such as household chores, going to the supermarket, or maintaining a friendship. Human functionality is defined as the result of the interaction between health conditions at a given time and contextual, environmental, or personal factors1010. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: WHO; 2001.. In this sense, it is important to identify the instruments that encompass the theoretical and conceptual model of functionality, as well as those that can properly assess the impact of the health condition on the functionality of individuals99. Farias N, Buchalla CM. A classificação internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde da organização mundial da saúde: conceitos, usos e perspectivas. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2005;8:187-93.,1010. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: WHO; 2001..

WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) is an instrument developed on the basis of a comprehensive set of categories included in the ICF structure, with the purpose of assessing health, functionality, and disability, and can be used in the clinical and research context1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010.. It has been validated by WHO in several countries1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010.,1212. Federici S, Bracalenti M. Meloni F, Luciano JV. World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0: an international systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2017;39:2347-80. and its psychometric characteristics have been evaluated. The results of the studies indicated a stable factor structure that can be applied in different countries and population groups, with a unidimensional structure and good characteristics of validity and reliability1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010..

WHODAS 2.0 has already been validated in 47 languages and was translated into Portuguese in 20151212. Federici S, Bracalenti M. Meloni F, Luciano JV. World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0: an international systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2017;39:2347-80.

13. Silveira C, Parpinelli MA, Pacagnella RC, Camargo RS, Costa ML, Zanardi DM, et al. Adaptação transcultural da Escala de Avaliação de Incapacidades da Organização Mundial de Saúde (WHODAS 2.0) para o Português. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2013;59:234-40.

14. Silva C, Coleta I, Silva AG, Amaro A, Alvarelhão J, Queirós A, et al. Adaptation and validation of whodas 2.0 in patients with musculoskeletal pain. Rev Saude Publica. 2013;47:752-8.
-1515. Moreira A, Alvarelhão J, Silva AG, Costa R, Queirós A. Tradução e validação para português do WHODAS 2.0: 12 itens em pessoas com 55 ou mais anos. Rev Port Saude Publica. 2015;33:179-82. In addition to the 36-item version, the instrument also has other smaller formats with 12 items. The 12-item version is indicated when the application time is short, such as in surveys or some clinical contexts1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010.. WHODAS-12 has test-retest reliability with an intra-class coefficient of 0.69–0.89 at the item level; 0.93–0.96 at the domain level; and 0.98 at the general level, and internal consistencies at the domain and general levels range from ‘acceptable’ to ‘very good’1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010.,1616. Saltychev M, Katajapuu N, Bärlund E, Laimi K. Psychometric properties of 12-item self administered World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) among general population and people with non-acute physical causes of disability: systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43:789-94.. In Brazil, two types of validation were performed in a cohort of postpartum women without comorbidity1717. Mayrink J, Souza RT, Silveira C, Guida JP, Costa ML, Parpinelli MA, et al. Reference ranges of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) score and diagnostic validity of its 12-item version in identifying altered functioning in healthy postpartum women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2018;141:48-54.,1818. Silveira C, Souza RT, Costa ML, Parpinelli MA, Pacagnella RC, Ferreira EC, et al. Validation of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) 12-item tool against the 36-item version for measuring functioning and disability associated with pregnancy and history of severe maternal morbidity. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2018;141 Suupl 1:39-47.. This instrument was also selected to be part of the suggested toolkit to assess disability and morbidity in patients with neglected tropical diseases, including CD1919. van ‘t Noordende AT, Kuiper H, Ramos AN Jr, Mieras LF, Barbosa JC, Pessoa SM, et al. Towards a toolkit for cross-neglected tropical disease morbidity and disability assessment. Int Health. 2016;8 Suppl 1:i71-81. However, WHODAS-12 was not evaluated in relation to its psychometric properties for CD patients.

Knowing the functional impairment of patients with CD will enable interventions to be carried out to improve their usual activities, such as work and leisure. These functionality indicators can be used not only in research but also for clinical and public health decision-making.

Numerous studies have previously been conducted with the objective of evaluating the functional performance of patients with CD, but so far there is no knowledge of investigations that used instruments that refer to the biopsychosocial model of limitation in daily activities and restriction in social participation in a large sample. In this context, it becomes relevant to evaluate the validity characteristics of WHODAS-12 in an endemic area of Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted using data obtained from a prospective cohort study named SaMi-Trop (Sao Paulo–Minas Gerais Center for Research in Tropical Medicine). SaMi-Trop is designed to follow Chagas disease (CD) progression in patients from an endemic area of Brazil. This research initiative has been made possible due to the collaborative efforts of four public universities, namely the University of Sao Paulo (USP), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei (UFSJ), and State University of Montes Claros (UNIMONTES). The study baseline was performed in 2013–2014 (n = 1951) and the follow-up visits (V1 and V2) were performed in 2015–2016 (n = 1585) and 2019–2021 (n = 628 preliminary). Baseline inclusion criteria were patients aged 18 years or older who self-reported CD and had an ECG recorded in a telehealth database. This State-wide telehealth program has a technological infrastructure that facilitates data acquisition in primary health care settings, cloud storage, and automatic recognition of ECG patterns2020. Alkmim MB, Figueira RM, Marcolino MS, Cardoso CS, Pena de Abreu M, Cunha LR, et al. Improving patient access to specialized health care: the Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Bull World Health Organ. 2012;90:373-8..

The serology of these patients was performed in this first stage and only participants who were seropositive for T. cruzi remained in the study. All surviving participants of V1 were contacted by letter or telephone and were invited to participate in V2. The study includes patients from 21 municipalities in the Minas Gerais State. More details are described in previous publications77. Cardoso CS, Sabino EC, Oliveira CL, Oliveira LC, Ferreira AM, Cunha-Neto E, et al. Longitudinal study of patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy in Brazil (SaMi-Trop project): a cohort profile. BMJ Open. 2016;6:e011181.,2121. Oliveira CL, Nunes MC, Colosimo EA, Lima EM, Cardoso CS, Ferreira AM, et al. Risk score for predicting 2-year mortality in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy from endemic areas: SaMi-Trop Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9:e014176.,2222. Oliveira CL, Cardoso CS, Baldoni NR, Natany L, Ferreira AM, Oliveira LC, et al. Cohort profile update: the main and new findings from the SaMi-Trop Chagas cohort. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo. 2021;63:e75.. The SaMi-Trop V2 was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed later. For this validation study, we included data from all patients participating in the SaMi-Trop cohort of the first stage of V2, that is, from patients who had their data collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, from October 2019 to March 2020. Those participants who did not respond to WHODAS-12 were excluded.

WHODAS-12 and the information collected in the interview, considering sociodemographic data, lifestyle habits, and self-perception of health, were analyzed. WHODAS-12, similarly to the full version (36 items), predicts the level of functionality in six domains, described as follows: 1) Cognition; 2) Mobility; 3) Self-care; 4) Interpersonal relationships; 5) Life activities; and 6) Participation1010. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: WHO; 2001.,1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010..

The population included in this study consisted of individuals who answered the interviews in stage 1 of V2 from October 2019 to March 2020. WHODAS-12 and a questionnaire containing sociodemographic information, lifestyle habits and self-perception of health were instruments used in the interview.

The individual’s degree of functionality in each item is evaluated on a five-point ordinal scale, where 0 (zero) means no difficulty and 4 (four) means that the individual cannot perform the activity. The evaluated items take into account the effort, discomfort or pain, slowness and/or changes in the way in which the person performs the activity. The total score is calculated as the sum of all responses (∑ of all answers x 12 questions = maximum 48 points) divided by 48 and multiplied by 100. A score of 0% represents no impairment of functionality and independence, while a score of 100% represents the lowest level of functionality with full dependence1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010.. WHODAS-12 assesses disability over the previous 30 days, and can be self-applied or interviewer-applied. For this study, considering the low education level of the population, the instrument was applied by an interviewer1010. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: WHO; 2001.,1111. Ustun TB, Kostanjesek N, Chatterji S, Rehm J, editors. Measuring health and disability: manual for WHO disability assessment schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Geneva: WHO; 2010..

Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics were described using descriptive statistics such as frequency, measures of central tendency, and dispersion. The construct validity of WHODAS-12 was evaluated by means of exploratory factor analysis in order to define the optimal count of latent variables. Factors were extracted by the Varimax method with Kaiser’s rule using the minimum value ≥1.0 for retention2222. Oliveira CL, Cardoso CS, Baldoni NR, Natany L, Ferreira AM, Oliveira LC, et al. Cohort profile update: the main and new findings from the SaMi-Trop Chagas cohort. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo. 2021;63:e75.. The instrument’s internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient1616. Saltychev M, Katajapuu N, Bärlund E, Laimi K. Psychometric properties of 12-item self administered World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) among general population and people with non-acute physical causes of disability: systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43:789-94.,2323. Saltychev M, Bärlund E, Mattie R, McCormick Z, Paltamaa J, Laimi K. A study of the psychometric properties of 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in a large population of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Clin Rehabil. 2017;31:262-72.

24. Schiavolin S, Ferroli P, Aecebi F, Brock S, Broggi M, Cusin A, et al. Disability in Italian neurosurgical patients: validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Int J Rehabil Res. 2014;37:267-70.
-2525. Luciano JV, Mateos JL, Fernández A, Blanco AS, Roca M, Haro JM. Psychometric properties of the twelve item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS II) in Spanish primary care patients with a first major depressive episode. J Affect Disord. 2010;121:52-8.. To assess the functional capacity, we used an available syntax for the global score1010. World Health Organization. International classification of functioning, disability and health: ICF. Geneva: WHO; 2001., and WHODAS-12 averages were calculated by domain as well. The SPSS statistical software (version 22.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for all calculations.

SaMi-Trop was approved by the Research Ethics Committee, (National Research Ethics Commission [Comissao Nacional de Etica em Pesquisa CONEP]) under Nº 179685/2012. Participants signed the Free and Informed Consent Term (FICT) prior to the interviews. The study was conducted in accordance with the Resolutions of the National Health Council (Conselho Nacional de Saude – CNS) Nº 510/2016 and Nº 466/2012.

RESULTS

A total of 695 patients returned for the V2. However, 67 (9.6%) did not answer WHODAS-12. At the end, 628 CD patients participating in the SaMi-Trop cohort were included in this study (Table 1). Most were women (69.5%), aged between 51 and 65 years (44.9%), married (65.1%), and 70% of the sample had not completed elementary school. Regarding lifestyle habits, 44.9% reported that they performed physical activity more than three times per week, and most denied having ever smoked (68.6%). Self-perception of health was classified as average for 43.4%.

Table 1
Descriptive analysis of sociodemographic characteristics and life habits of Chagas disease carriers (n = 628*), 2019.

WHODAS-12 measurement qualities

Construct validity

Dimensional structure – After the factor analysis, the 12 items of the WHODAS-12 scale were distributed into three factors, which together accounted for 61% of the variance, with initial eigenvalues of 5.04 for Factor 1, 1.17 for Factor 2, and 1.05 for Factor 3 (Table 2). The dimensional structure of the WHODAS-12 scale was distributed as follows: Factor 1) Six items that assess ‘Mobility, Life Activity, Participation and Cognition’ (items S1–S4, S7 and S12); Factor 2) Four items that included ‘Interpersonal Relationships and Cognition’ (S5, S6, S10 and S11); and Factor 3) Two items that assess the ‘Capacity for Self-care’ (items S8–S9). The factor loading in the respective factors ranged from 0.44 to 0.87. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) index was 0.90, indicating adequacy of the sample to perform the factor analysis.

Table 2
Results of factor analysis* and factor loadings of the items on the WHODAS-12 scale using the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin index (n = 628).

Internal consistency

Table 3 shows the results of internal consistency for each item, factor, and global scale that were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The first factor, which encompasses physical capacity with six items, presented internal consistency with an alpha of 0.84. Item S2, which assesses household activities, was better correlated with the others in this factor, with a correlation of 0.76. The second factor, with four items that assess emotional function and cognition, had an alpha of 0.65; while the third factor, composed of two items aimed to assess self-care, showed an internal consistency with an alpha of 0.79, with item/total correlations of 0.65 for both. The internal consistency of the global scale, including the 12 items, showed alpha = 0.87, and the item/total correlations for the scale ranged from 0.37 to 0.72.

Table 3
Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the factors and for the global scale, and correlations of the items with the factor and with the WHODAS-12 scale (n = 628).

Assessment of functional disability

Table 4 shows the averages of items, domains, and the global score obtained on the WHODAS-12 scale for the evaluated CD patients. The global mean score of WHODAS-12 was 16.05 points (CI: 14.70 to 17.34). The lowest score was in ‘self-care’ (0.44) (CI: 0.34 to 0.53) and the highest score was in the ‘mobility, emotion and cognition’ domain (5.20) (CI: 4.48 to 5.62).

Table 4
Assessment of functional disability, according to WHODAS-12 items, domains, and global scale.

DISCUSSION

We analyzed the WHODAS-12 psychometric properties in individuals diagnosed with CD residing in an endemic area in Brazil. Despite not being the first investigation using this instrument to assess the functionality of a population with CD, it is the first to assess the psychometric properties of the instrument. Our results indicate that WHODAS-12 is a valid and reliable tool to be used with this population. However, it is important to emphasize that, according to our results, the number of domains should be reduced from six to three, when used in a similar population.

Factor analysis showed that data fitted better in three factors. In the first factor, items related to physical functioning and activities were adjusted, while the items related to interpersonal relationships and self-care were loaded in factors 1 and 3 respectively. A participation and cognition item was loaded in factors 1 and 2. Cognition has been described with positive correlations for physical performance, such as balance, mobility and walking2626. Santos AJ, Silva DF, Gatti AL, Lima AM, Aquino RC. Sintomas de depressão, risco nutricional e capacidade funcional em idosos longevos. Estud Interdiscip Psicol. 2021;12:3-21,2727. Souza NM, Macedo RC, Brucki SN. Cross-sectional associations between cognition and mobility in Parkinson’s disease. Dement Neuropsychol. 2021;15:105-11. We believe that cognition can have a positive response in mobility and participation.

Previous research has already verified the validity of the construct1616. Saltychev M, Katajapuu N, Bärlund E, Laimi K. Psychometric properties of 12-item self administered World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) among general population and people with non-acute physical causes of disability: systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43:789-94.,2323. Saltychev M, Bärlund E, Mattie R, McCormick Z, Paltamaa J, Laimi K. A study of the psychometric properties of 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in a large population of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Clin Rehabil. 2017;31:262-72.

24. Schiavolin S, Ferroli P, Aecebi F, Brock S, Broggi M, Cusin A, et al. Disability in Italian neurosurgical patients: validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Int J Rehabil Res. 2014;37:267-70.
-2525. Luciano JV, Mateos JL, Fernández A, Blanco AS, Roca M, Haro JM. Psychometric properties of the twelve item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS II) in Spanish primary care patients with a first major depressive episode. J Affect Disord. 2010;121:52-8.,2828. Gaskin CJ, Lambert SD, Bowe SJ, Orellana L. Why sample selection matters in exploratory factor analysis: implications for the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2017;17:40.. Structures of three, two and one factors were previously found in validation studies of WHODAS-12. A study carried out with data from the World Health Organization Longitudinal Study on global aging and adult health, with samples collected from six countries (South Africa, China, Ghana, India, Russia, Mexico) also found three factors for WHODAS-122828. Gaskin CJ, Lambert SD, Bowe SJ, Orellana L. Why sample selection matters in exploratory factor analysis: implications for the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2017;17:40., just like this investigation. The three factors adjusted similarly, with ‘mobility’, ‘life activities’, and ‘participation in society’ loaded in one factor, and ‘interpersonal relationships’ and ‘personal care’ heavily loaded in two other factors. The two studies by Saltychev et al.2323. Saltychev M, Bärlund E, Mattie R, McCormick Z, Paltamaa J, Laimi K. A study of the psychometric properties of 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in a large population of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Clin Rehabil. 2017;31:262-72.,2929. Saltychev M, Mattie R, McCormick Z, Laimi K. Confirmatory factor analysis of 12-Item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule in patients with musculoskeletal pain conditions. Clin Rehabil. 2017;31:702-9. of a population with musculoskeletal pain and chronic musculoskeletal pain found two factors for WHODAS-12. A single-factor structure was observed for a Spanish population with depression2424. Schiavolin S, Ferroli P, Aecebi F, Brock S, Broggi M, Cusin A, et al. Disability in Italian neurosurgical patients: validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Int J Rehabil Res. 2014;37:267-70. and an Italian population after neurosurgery2525. Luciano JV, Mateos JL, Fernández A, Blanco AS, Roca M, Haro JM. Psychometric properties of the twelve item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS II) in Spanish primary care patients with a first major depressive episode. J Affect Disord. 2010;121:52-8..

The literature suggests that the interpretation of factors and domains should consider the new compositions after factor analysis for each population studied. Thus, considering the analyses of this study, the three factors found can be analyzed separately from the general score2323. Saltychev M, Bärlund E, Mattie R, McCormick Z, Paltamaa J, Laimi K. A study of the psychometric properties of 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in a large population of people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Clin Rehabil. 2017;31:262-72.,2929. Saltychev M, Mattie R, McCormick Z, Laimi K. Confirmatory factor analysis of 12-Item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule in patients with musculoskeletal pain conditions. Clin Rehabil. 2017;31:702-9.. This analysis may raise indicators to support rehabilitation planning or assess treatment outcomes. Schiavolin et al.2424. Schiavolin S, Ferroli P, Aecebi F, Brock S, Broggi M, Cusin A, et al. Disability in Italian neurosurgical patients: validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Int J Rehabil Res. 2014;37:267-70. state that the WHODAS-12 instrument was sensitive to different health states, comparing the responses of those without symptoms, mild symptoms, or severe symptoms.

This study showed a high internal consistency for WHODAS-12 on the global scale (α = 0.87). Similar Cronbach alpha values were obtained for a Spanish population with depression (0.89)2727. Souza NM, Macedo RC, Brucki SN. Cross-sectional associations between cognition and mobility in Parkinson’s disease. Dement Neuropsychol. 2021;15:105-11, an Italian population after neurosurgery (0.87)2424. Schiavolin S, Ferroli P, Aecebi F, Brock S, Broggi M, Cusin A, et al. Disability in Italian neurosurgical patients: validity of the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Int J Rehabil Res. 2014;37:267-70. and a general Portuguese population over 55 years old (α = 0.86)1515. Moreira A, Alvarelhão J, Silva AG, Costa R, Queirós A. Tradução e validação para português do WHODAS 2.0: 12 itens em pessoas com 55 ou mais anos. Rev Port Saude Publica. 2015;33:179-82. A systematic review of 2019, with 14 studies, reported generally high alpha estimates, ranging from 0.81 to 0.961616. Saltychev M, Katajapuu N, Bärlund E, Laimi K. Psychometric properties of 12-item self administered World Health Organization disability assessment schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) among general population and people with non-acute physical causes of disability: systematic review. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43:789-94.. While the Cronbach’s alpha for the ‘Interpersonal Relations and Cognition’ domain (α = 0.65) was slightly below the recommended threshold for adequate internal consistency (α < 0.70), this domain, with its two items, still presented an important contribution to the global alpha of WHODAS-12.

Despite not being the focus of this study, attention was drawn to the low prevalence of functional disability, according to the WHODAS-12 global score. Despite the highest average being for the ‘Mobility, Life Activity, Participation and Cognition’ domain, it was expected that patients with CD would have had more difficulties, especially in the domains related to physical exertion. Cardiac alterations can result in dyspnea and fatigue on exertion, leading to restrictions in life activities and mobility11. Bern C. Chagas’ disease. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:456-66.,22. Dias JC, Ramos Jr AN, Gontijo ED, Luquetti A, Shikanai-Yasuda MA, Coura JR, et al. II Consenso Brasileiro em Doença de Chagas, 2015. Epidemiol Serv Saude. 2015;25 N esp:7-86.,3030. Silva WT, Costa HS, Figueiredo PH, Lima MM, Lima VP, Costa FS, et al. Determinantes da capacidade funcional em pacientes com doença de Chagas. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021;117:934-41. Significant functional limitations in a variety of WHODAS domains were observed in patients with cardiovascular disease in New Zealand with no gender differences in the degree of disability3131. Scott KM, Collings SC. Gender differences in the disability (functional limitations) associated with cardiovascular disease: a general population study. Psychosomatics. 2012;53:38-43. In the work by van ‘t Noordende et al.1919. van ‘t Noordende AT, Kuiper H, Ramos AN Jr, Mieras LF, Barbosa JC, Pessoa SM, et al. Towards a toolkit for cross-neglected tropical disease morbidity and disability assessment. Int Health. 2016;8 Suppl 1:i71-81, carried out in an endemic region in Brazil, a low global score was also observed for patients with CD. Participants also reported the highest levels of disability in mobility, participation and life activities, such as school and work. Some studies3030. Silva WT, Costa HS, Figueiredo PH, Lima MM, Lima VP, Costa FS, et al. Determinantes da capacidade funcional em pacientes com doença de Chagas. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2021;117:934-41,3232. Oliveira FP, Pedrosa RC, Giannella-Neto A. Gas exchange during exercise in different evolutional stages of chronic Chagas’ heart disease. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2000;75:481-98. have already shown that functional impairment is only detectable in patients with CD in the presence of advanced cardiomyopathy.

This result of low functional disability in the present study may be related to the fact that it is a population with broad participation in activities of daily living, in addition to physical activity and a high level of social involvement, characteristics generally widely present in small cities located in remote regions. This social cohesion may have been reflected in items related to emotion and cognition. The lowest score on questions related to interpersonal relationships can be explained by the fact that they are more subjective when compared to more objective questions, such as those assessed in the domains of mobility and activities1919. van ‘t Noordende AT, Kuiper H, Ramos AN Jr, Mieras LF, Barbosa JC, Pessoa SM, et al. Towards a toolkit for cross-neglected tropical disease morbidity and disability assessment. Int Health. 2016;8 Suppl 1:i71-81. To minimize this problem, the authors suggest associating the short P scale with WHODAS-121919. van ‘t Noordende AT, Kuiper H, Ramos AN Jr, Mieras LF, Barbosa JC, Pessoa SM, et al. Towards a toolkit for cross-neglected tropical disease morbidity and disability assessment. Int Health. 2016;8 Suppl 1:i71-81. The P-scale assesses the participation of individuals with diverse health conditions and different cultural environments3333. Dutra FC, Alves AC, Aramaki AL, Amaral MF, Cavalcanti A. Interexaminer and test-retest reliability of the Participation Scale (P-Scale) in stroke patients. Acta Fisiatr. 2022;29:42-9.

Another factor that may contribute to the good results obtained in our sample is age. The mean age was below 60 years, which favors a better physical performance, despite the presence of CD in its chronic form3434. Alvarenga MR, Oliveira MA, Faccenda O, Souza RA. Perfil social e funcional de idosos atendidos pela estratégia de saúde da familia. Cogitare Enferm. 2011;16:478-85.,3535. Guariento ME, Leite BL, Galvão BS, Thomas RP, Moretto MC, Almeida EA. Funcionalidade e fatores associados em adultos e idosos portadores da doença de Chagas. Rev Soc Bras Clin Med. 2015;13:94-7.. However, it is necessary to consider that CD contributes to an excessive risk of death in seropositive patients when compared with those seronegative for Trypanosoma Cruzi3636. Capuani L, Bierrenbach AL, Alencar AP, Mendrone Jr A, Ferreira JE, Custer B, et al. Mortality among blood donors seropositive and seronegative for Chagas disease (1996-2000) in São Paulo, Brazil: a death certificate linkage study. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017;11:e0005542. and a lower life expectancy3535. Guariento ME, Leite BL, Galvão BS, Thomas RP, Moretto MC, Almeida EA. Funcionalidade e fatores associados em adultos e idosos portadores da doença de Chagas. Rev Soc Bras Clin Med. 2015;13:94-7.,3737. Lima-Costa MF, Peixoto SV, Matos DL, Firmo JO, Uchoa E. Predictors of 10-year mortality in a population of community-dwelling Brazilian elderly: the Bambuí Cohort Study of Aging. Cad Saude Publica. 2011;27 Suppl 3:S360-9.. In a cohort that followed the elderly in a CD-endemic region in the central-western part of the Minas Gerais State, a three-fold greater risk of death was observed among people who had four or more impaired functions of daily living activities than those without any limitation2121. Oliveira CL, Nunes MC, Colosimo EA, Lima EM, Cardoso CS, Ferreira AM, et al. Risk score for predicting 2-year mortality in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy from endemic areas: SaMi-Trop Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020;9:e014176.. It is important to note that the profile of the SaMi-Trop cohort is patients coming from primary health care and not patients from specialty centers, as in the aforementioned study, and who are usually more severely ill patients. These data may partly explain the fact that populations with lower severity are survivors.

This study presented the measurement properties of an instrument with great potential for assessing the functional disability of the population with CD in Brazil, but it is important to discuss certain aspects here. Firstly, we did not assess the temporal stability of the instrument through the test-retest; this was not possible in view of the cross-sectional design of the study. Secondly, the interruption of data collection due to the COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with the results, although there was no previous selection of these patients. In contrast, the sample size was five times larger than necessary according to the recommendation by Nunnally3838. Nunnally JC. Psychometric theory. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 1978., which suggests, as an ideal number for carrying out a factor analysis, the proportion of 10 individuals for each item of the instrument.

Despite these considerations, the WHODAS-12 instrument has been widely used in various populations, including those with different physical, psychological, and social changes due to its ease and low cost of application. In addition, the instruments that assess disability according to the ICF are limited. This study brings some positive points to be highlighted, the first being the fact that it has an adequate sample to perform the factor analysis, which reinforces the finding of adequate reliability of WHODAS. Secondly, we emphasize that the studied cohort probably represents the diversity of people living with CD.

CONCLUSION

WHODAS-12 presents itself as a valid and reliable tool to assess the functional disability of the population with CD. Future investigations can be carried out to assess how CD may affect the functionality of these individuals.

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  • FUNDING: The SaMi-Trop cohort study is supported by the National Institutes of Health (P50 AI098461-02), the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq, 467043/2014-0), and the Minas Gerais State Funding Agency (FAPEMIG, REDE 018-14). ALPR is supported in part by CNPq (310679/2016-8 and 465518/2014-1) and by FAPEMIG (PPM-00428-17, RED-00081-16).

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    14 Apr 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    4 Oct 2022
  • Accepted
    14 Mar 2023
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