title: Validity of the COPD assessment test translated into local languages for Asian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to evaluate the validity of the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), translated locally, for measuring the health status of patients in Asian countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pooled analysis of cross-sectional studies from Indonesia, Korea, Vietnam, and Hong Kong was performed. Smokers or ex-smokers, aged ≥ 40 years, with a smoking history of ≥ 10 pack-years and a COPD diagnosis in the past 6 months or more were recruited. Demographic, smoking, and COPD history and spirometry data were collected from patients who completed the CAT or St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and had their dyspnea assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 333 patients with mean age of 69 ± 9 years and smoking history of 38 ± 25 pack-years; 82% had ceased smoking. One-third suffered from cardiovascular comorbidities, 72% reported at least one exacerbation in the past year, and 82% recorded at least moderate health impairment (CAT scores ≥ 10 units). The CAT score was positively correlated with the SGRQ score (r = 0.72, P &lt; .001) and Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea score (r = 0.50, P &lt; .001) and poorly correlated with the FEV1 (r = -0.23, P &lt; .001) and number of exacerbations in the past year (r = 0.11, P = .04). The relationships between the CAT score and SGRQ score, MRC dyspnea score, or FEV1 did not differ between countries (P value for interaction term = 0.76, 0.75, and 0.06, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CAT correlated well with the SGRQ and MRC dyspnea score in all countries, and the relationship did not differ between countries despite varying patient characteristics. This suggests that a CAT score in one of these countries has the same clinical significance as the same score in another.
authors: GlaxoSmithKline, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. Electronic address: namhee.n.kwon@gsk.com.
authors: Namhee
authors: N
authors: Kwon
authors: Faculty of Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.
authors: Muhammad
authors: M
authors: Amin
authors: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors: David S
authors: DS
authors: Hui
authors: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Hallym University Medical College, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Ki-Suck
authors: KS
authors: Jung
authors: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Seong Yong
authors: SY
authors: Lim
authors: Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors: Huu Duy
authors: HD
authors: Ta
authors: Trieu An Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
authors: Thi Thuy Linh
authors: TTL
authors: Thai
authors: Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.
authors: Faisal
authors: F
authors: Yunus
authors: Division of Clinical Science, St. George's University, London, England.
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: Jones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001208:Asia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology