Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Traditional Chinese Version of the VISA-P Questionnaire.

Background: The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) questionnaire is a widely accepted instrument for measuring the severity of symptoms and pain in patients having sustained patellar tendinopathy. Purpose: To adapt the VISA-P questionnaire cross-culturally to a traditional Chinese version (VISA-P-Ch) and validate its psychometric properties. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The VISA-P questionnaire was adapted to a traditional Chinese version following international recommended guidelines, including translation, synthesis, back translation, revision by expert committee, pretesting, and validation. The psychometric properties were tested in 15 healthy controls and 15 participants with patellar tendinopathy. Face validity was judged by the authors and participants. Known-groups validity was tested by comparing the VISA-P-Ch scores between symptomatic and asymptomatic participants using an independent t test. Concurrent validity was determined by comparing the Blazina classification of the participants against VISA-P-Ch scores using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability was assessed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) following a 24- to 48-hour interval. Internal consistency was determined by the Cronbach alpha. Results: The expert committee and participants reported good face validity of the VISA-P-Ch. Significantly higher scores were found in the control group than in the patellar tendinopathy group (98.47 ± 3.04 vs 65 ± 11.9; P < .001). Concurrent validity showed a high correlation between VISA-P-Ch and the Blazina classification system (r = -0.899; P < .01). The test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.964). Internal consistency was found to be good for both the first and second assessments (Cronbach α = 0.834 and 0.851). Conclusion: The VISA-P-Ch was proven to be a reliable and valid questionnaire with similar psychometric properties as the original VISA-P.

Prediction and types of dead-space fraction during exercise in male chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

ABSTRACT: A high dead space (VD) to tidal volume (VT) ratio during peak exercise (VD/VTpeak) is a sensitive and consistent marker of gas exchange abnormalities; therefore, it is important in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is necessary to use invasive methods to obtain VD/VTpeak, as noninvasive methods, such as end-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2peak) and PETCO2 adjusted with Jones' equation (PJCO2peak) at peak exercise, have been reported to be inconsistent with arterial PCO2 at peak exercise (PaCO2peak). Hence, this study aimed to generate prediction equations for VD/VTpeak using statistical techniques, and to use PETCO2peak and PJCO2peak to calculate the corresponding VD/VTpeaks (i.e., VD/VTpeakETVD/VTpeakJ).A total of 46 male subjects diagnosed with COPD who underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise tests with PaCO2 measured via arterial catheterization were enrolled. Demographic data, blood laboratory tests, functional daily activities, chest radiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, and lung function tests were assessed.In multivariate analysis, diffusing capacity, vital capacity, mean inspiratory tidal flow, heart rate, and oxygen pulse at peak exercise were selected with a predictive power of 0.74. There were no significant differences in the PCO2peak values and the corresponding VD/VTpeak values across the three types (both p = NS).In subjects with COPD, VD/VTpeak can be estimated using statistical methods and the PETCO2peak and PJCO2peak. These methods may have similar predictive power and thus can be used in clinical practice.

Resting Dead Space Fraction as Related to Clinical Characteristics, Lung Function, and Gas Exchange in Male Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Measures of forced expired volume in one second % predicted (FEV1%), residual volume to total lung capacity ratio (RV/TLC) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide measurements (DLCO) are the standard lung function test for evaluating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The dead space fraction (VD/VT) has been shown to be a robust marker of gas exchange abnormality. However, the use of VD/VT has gradually become less common. As VD/VT measured at rest (VD/VTR) has been successfully used in non-COPD conditions, it was hypothesized that in COPD the VD/VTR was more sensitive than the standard lung function test in correlation with clinical characteristics and gas exchange. This study aimed to test the hypothesis and to identify the variables relevant to VD/VTR. METHODS: A total of 46 male subjects with COPD were enrolled. Clinical characteristics included demographic data, oxygen-cost diagram (OCD), and image studies for pulmonary hypertension. The standard lung function was obtained. To calculate VD/VT, invasive arterial blood gas and pulmonary gas exchange (PGX) were measured. The variables relevant to VD/VTR were analyzed by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Compared to lung function, VD/VTR was more frequently and significantly related to smoking, carboxyhemoglobin level, pulmonary hypertension and PaCO2 (all p <0.05) whereas FEV1% was more related to lung function test, PaO2 and OCD score. VD/VTR and FEV1% were highly related to resting gas exchange but RV/TLC and DLCO% were not. Cigarette consumption, the equivalent for CO2 output, arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation, and the product of tidal volume and inspiratory duty cycle were identified as the parameters relevant to VD/VTR with a power of 0.72. CONCLUSION: Compared to lung function test, VD/VTR is more related to clinical characteristics and is a comprehensive marker of resting gas exchange. Further studies are warranted to provide a noninvasive measurement of VD/VTR. REGISTRATION NUMBER: MOST 106-2314-B-040-025 and CSH-2019-C-30.