title: Performance characteristics of a dialysis-related amyloidosis questionnaire.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of beta-2 microglobulin amyloidosis on functional status, a 19-item self-administered questionnaire exploring two major domains-symptoms and disability-was developed as part of this study. Fifteen patients with dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) were identified and compared with 15 age-matched control subjects who had been on hemodialysis for less than 24 months. Demographic data, Charlson comorbidity scores, and other clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Total dialysis-related amyloidosis questionnaire (DRAQ) score (52.1 +/- 16.3 versus 24.4 +/- 6.2, P < 0.0001) and the scores of the symptom (24.5 +/- 7.0 versus 11.5 +/- 2.3, P < 0.0001) and disability (27.5 +/- 10.8 versus 12.9 +/- 4.0, P < 0.0001) subscales were markedly increased among patients with DRA. Baseline characteristics among case and control subjects were similar, except for serum creatinine concentration, which tended to be lower among patients with DRA (8.9 +/- 2.6 versus 11.5 +/- 2.3 mg/dL, P = 0.07). Instrument reliability and internal consistency were high. With a total DRAQ score of 30 or more, the sensitivity and specificity of the instrument were 93% and 80%, respectively. The DRAQ is a reliable, internally consistent, and valid instrument that may be suitable for population screening and clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Chertow
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trimbur
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Karlson
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kay
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D003404:Creatinine