A new insight into the differences among non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients using the liver disease quality of life instrument (LDQOL).
Our aims were to validate the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Liver Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire instrument (LDQOL1.0) and evaluate this tool in non-cirrhotic patients.


METHODS
The LDQOL1.0 consists of the SF-36 generic measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and 12 disease-specific dimensions for patients with liver disease. The Brazilian Portuguese version instrument was administered to 103 patients with liver disease. Reliability was analyzed by studying the internal consistency of the individual disease- specific dimensions of the LDQOL, as well as by studying the test-retest reliability in a sub-group of 74 patients who completed the questionnaire on two occasions 1 to 2 weeks apart. Validity was analyzed by determining the instrument's ability to discriminate between groups of patients according to severity of the liver disease.


RESULTS
Internal consistency in the disease- specific dimensions was good (CACs 0.66-0.94), as well as test-retest reliability in all dimensions (ICCs of 0.64-0.96) p<0.05. We found statistically significant differences in six domains when compensated cirrhotic patients, Child A, were compared with non-cirrhotic patients. We also found statistically significant differences when we compared cirrhotic patients evaluated assessed by Child-Pugh and Meld classifications. Patients with Child C and Meld>or=15 showed worse quality of life. Moderate ceiling and floor effects were found in some disease-specific dimensions.


CONCLUSIONS
the Brazilian Portuguese version of the LDQOL 1.0 is very useful for measuring HRQOL in liver diseases.
Dias Teixeira
María Cristina
MC
School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, and Gastroenterology Clinic, Heliopolis Hospital, Brazil.
de Fátima Gomes de Sá Ribeiro
María
M
Strauss
Edna
E
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires