October 8, 2024BMC Cardiovascular Disorders14 citationsOpen Access
The validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D in atrial fibrillation patients in a conflict country: a study from Syria
Structured PICO
Does the Arabic version of the EQ-5D reliably and validly measure health-related quality of life in Syrian patients with atrial fibrillation?
P
Population
432 adult patients admitted to the emergency department of Tishreen's University Hospital in Latakia, Syria, with atrial fibrillation as the primary diagnosis, mean age 63 ± 15, 56% male.
I
Intervention
Administration of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and SF-36 questionnaires.
O
Outcome
Reliability and validity (convergent, discriminant, and known-groups) of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D.patient reported
The Arabic version of the EQ-5D is a valid and reliable tool for assessing health-related quality of life in Syrian patients with atrial fibrillation.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The EQ-5D is one of the most commonly used tools to establish health-related quality of life (QoL). EQ-5D data in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in the Middle East are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the EQ-5D in AF inpatients in Syria. METHODS: The study involved patients admitted to the emergency department of Tishreen's University Hospital in Latakia with AF as the primary diagnosis between the 1st of June 2021 and the 1st of June 2023. Arabic versions of the EQ-5D, EQ-VAS and SF36 questionnaires were administered to patients. Validation was done using convergent, discriminant, and known-groups validity, while reliability was conducted using EQ-5D retesting within 2-4 weeks. RESULTS: 432 participants were included in the study with a mean ± standard deviation of 63 ± 15. Males represented 242 (56%) of the participants. All hypotheses relating EQ-5D responses to external variables were satisfied. All three validation hypotheses demonstrated that the EQ-5D had the convergent, discriminant and known group validity to assess QoL in this cohort. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability ranged between 0.74 and 0.88, while Cohen's κ ranged between 0.72 and 0.86. Cronbach's α value for internal consistency was 0.73. CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of EQ-5D was valid and reliable in measuring QoL in AF inpatients in Syria. This validation opens the door for more widespread use of the EQ-5D in Arabic-speaking regions, facilitating better-informed healthcare decisions and improving patient care strategies in Syria and other Middle Eastern countries.