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. 2021 Feb;8(1):e000761.
doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000761.

COPD-Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Visual Analogue Score (c-LRTI-VAS) validation in stable and exacerbated patients with COPD

Hendrik Johannes Prins  1 , Ruud Duijkers  1 , Johannes M A Daniels  2 , Thys van der Molen  3 , Tjip S van der Werf  4 , Wim Boersma  5
Affiliations

COPD-Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Visual Analogue Score (c-LRTI-VAS) validation in stable and exacerbated patients with COPD

Hendrik Johannes Prins et al. BMJ Open Respir Res. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Background: We developed the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-Lower Respiratory Tract Infection-Visual Analogue Score (c-LRTI-VAS) in order to easily quantify symptoms during exacerbations in patients with COPD. This study aimed to validate this score.

Methods: In our study, patients with stable COPD as well as those with an acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) were included. The results of c-LRTI-VAS were compared with other markers of disease activity (lung function parameters, oxygen saturation and two health related quality of life questionnaires (St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ)) and validity, reliability and responsiveness were assessed.

Results: Eighty-eight patients with clinically stable COPD and 102 patients who had an AECOPD completed the c-LRTI-VAS questionnaire. When testing on two separate occasions for repeatability, no statistically significant difference between total scores was found 0.143 (SD 5.42) (p=0.826). Internal consistency was high across items (Cronbach's apha 0.755). Correlation with SGRQ and CCQ total scores was moderate to high. After treatment for hospitalised AECOPD, the mean c-LRTI-VAS total score improved 8.14 points (SD 9.13; p≤0.001).

Conclusions: c-LRTI-VAS showed proper validity, responsiveness to change and moderate to high correlation with other questionnaires. It, therefore, appears a reliable tool for symptom measurement during AECOPD.

Trial registration number: NCT01232140.

Keywords: COPD exacerbations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: TvdM is a part time employee of Glaxo Smith Kline London.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
c-LRTI-VAS.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trial profile.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scores of individual questionnaires during stable state and AECOPD at t=0 days and t=30 days. (A) c-LRTI-VAS, (B) SGRQ (C) CCQ. AECOPD, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CCQ, Clinical COPD Questionnaire; c-LRTI-VAS, COPD-lower respiratory tract infections-Visual Analogue Score; SGRQ, St George Respiratory Questionnaire.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Bland-Altman plot c-LRTI-VAS. COPD-lower respiratory tract infections-Visual Analogue Score.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Correlation plot in stable state and during AECOPD. (A) c-LRTI-VAS and SGRQ (B) c-LRTI-VAS and CCQ. AECOPD, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CCQ, Clinical COPD Questionnaire; c-LRTI-VAS, COPD-lower respiratory tract infections-Visual Analogue Score; COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; SGRQ, St George Respiratory Questionnaire.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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