OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) into Brazilian-Portuguese language and to assess its measurement properties. METHODS: The BASFI was translated by four rheumatologists and three English teachers. The translated questionnaire was applied to ankylosing spondylitis patients by trained observers, and self-administered in three moments: days 1, 2, and 14. The validity was assessed analyzing the association of BASFI and functional capacity measures (cervical rotation, intermalleolar distance, Schober's test and occiput-to-wall distance). The internal consistence was tested by Cronbach's αcoefficient and the reliability by testretest (intraclass correlation coefficient - ICC). RESULTS: A total of 60 patients with ankylosing spondylitis was included: 85% male, mean age 47 ± 12 years, and mean disease duration 20 ± 11 years. The intra-observer test-retest (two-week interval) reliability showed a high ICC (0.999, 95% CI: 0.997-0.999) and a high internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient: 0.86, CI 95%: 0.80-0.90). Considering the validity, the BASFI indices were correlated with cervical rotation (0.53, P < 0.001) and with intermalleolar distance (0.50, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The BASFI Brazilian-Portuguese version is reliable and valid for assessment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
ankylosing spondylitis; translation; questionnaires; BASFI; health status