BackgroundKashin–Beck Disease (KBD) is an endemic osteoarthropathy in areas which extend from the North-East to the South-West of China. Most of the patients with KBD suffer multiple dysfunctions in major joints causing decreased health status. However because of their low education level and unique living habits, it is hard to find tools to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQOL). European quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) patient-reported instrument is widely used to measure HRQOL. This study aimed to establish the validity and reliability of the Chinese version of the EQ-5D-3L for evaluating HRQOL of KBD individuals in rural area.Methods368 individuals who were suffering from KBD were recruited through stratified multistage random sampling from Shaanxi province, China. The EQ-5D-3L and the WHOQOL-BREF were administrated in each individual by face to face interview. Test–retest reliability was assessed at 10–14 days intervals. The test–retest reliability was measured by calculating the Kappa coefficients for EQ-5D-3L five dimensions. For the EQ VAS, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was computed. Convergent and divergent analysis, construct validity was established using Spearman’s rank correlation between the EQ-5D-3L and the WHOQOL-BREF. Known groups’ validity was examined by comparing groups with a priori expected differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL).ResultsFor 362 individuals (98%), comprehensive data of all the EQ-5D-3L dimensions were available. Kappa values of the EQ-5D-3L five items ranged from 0.324 to 0.554. ICC of the EQ VAS was 0.497. For convergent validity, the three items (self-care, usual activity, and mobility) of EQ-5D-3L, index scores, and VAS showed moderate correlations with the physical health domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (r absolute value ranged from 0.339 to 0.475). For divergent validity, the 5 items of EQ-5D-3L showed weak or no correlations with environment and social relationship domains of WHOQOL-BREF. The Chinese EQ-5D-3L clearly demarcated between groups which were reporting severe disease degree, poorer general health, more number of painful joints with worse HRQOL.ConclusionsThe EQ-5D-3L Chinese Version demonstrated fair to moderate levels of test–retest reliability and adequate construct validity in KBD individuals in China.

The purpose of this study was to check the reliability and validity of the 12-item Chinese version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) for the assessment of disability in patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). We recruited 219 patients with KBD from the high-risk KBD area in the Shaanxi province, using stratified multistage random sampling. We assessed each patient using the Chinese version of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index of Osteoarthritis (WOMAC). Statistical evaluations of the instruments consisted of Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Cronbach's alpha and ICC for the six domains ranged from 0.704 to 0.906 and 0.690 to 0.852, respectively. A six-factor structure fits the data well (CFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.944, RMSEA = 0.08). Regarding convergent validity, the four domains of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 (getting around, self-care, life activity, and participation) showed moderate-to-strong correlation for all three domains of the WOMAC (0.428 < |r| < 0.804). Regarding divergent validity, the two domains of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 (understanding and communication, and getting along with people) showed weak correlation for the three domains of WOMAC (0.182 < |r| < 0.295). The Chinese version of 12-item WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument when administered to KBD patients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the joint dysfunction index (JDI) for assessment of therapeutic efficacy for Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). In an initial survey, completed questionnaires were obtained from 276 of 281 patients (98.2 %). A follow-up survey was completed with 64 KBD patients among 276 cases. A third survey selected 60 KBD patients who underwent intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate in the knees ascertained from the findings of the second questionnaire. Reliability was assessed using test-retest, "split-half" reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Factor analysis and item-to-domain correlation were used to analyze validity. The coefficient of variation (CV) was used to measure the sensitivity of scale. Feasibility assessment included consideration of completion time, rate of recovery, and time of completion. Reliability analysis comprised a test-retest correlation coefficient of 0.404-0.546 and a kappa test of 0.404-0.546. Internal consistency analysis comprised a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.689 and a split-half coefficient of 0.677. Principal component factor analysis for validity testing extracted a common factor with a cumulative variance contribution of 45.44 %. The JDI score from 276 KBD cases revealed no significant difference associated with age, gender, education, or the body mass index. Sensitivity analysis showed that there was no significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment values, with a CV of 96.55-172.06 %. In conclusion, the JDI can be used to evaluate the efficacy of agents used to treat KBD.

Background: Several questionnaires have been used to assess the health status of patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in clinical trials, but the evidence regarding the responsiveness of these instruments in KBD patients is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the responsiveness of the Chinese version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) in KBD patients undergoing intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA). Methods: A sample of 232 KBD patients treated with intra-articular injection of HA completed the WOMAC, 12-item WHODAS 2.0 and joint dysfunction index (JDI) both pre-and post-treatment. Responsiveness was assessed using correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses following the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. Results: Overall, there were significant improvements in the mean scores on the WOMAC and on the 12-item WHODAS 2.0, except for in the cognition domain. Correlation analysis showed that changes in the WOMAC and 12item WHODAS 2.0 scores had moderate or weak positive associations with the changes in the JDI. However, acceptable areas under the ROC curve (value > 0.7) were found for all domains and for the total score on the WOMAC, but only for the mobility domain and the total score on the 12-item WHODAS 2.0. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that the WOMAC was more responsive than the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 in KBD patients treated with intra-articular injection of HA. Our findings support the continued use of the WOMAC as an outcome measure in assessing disability in KBD patients.

BackgroundKashin-Beck Disease (KBD) is an endemic, chronic joint disease. Multisite joint pain is the primary symptom of KBD, which have profound negative effects on individuals and society. However, studies on joint pain characteristics among the KBD population are still limited. The aims of this study were to explore characteristics of joint pain in patients with KBD and determine associated factors with joint pain. MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 167 patients with KBD and 169 patients from the general population with joint pain from Shaanxi Province in northwest China. Subjects were asked about joint pain characteristics and completed the numeric rating scale (NRS), the graded chronic pain scale (GCPS) and the EuroQol (EQ-5D) questionnaire. Differences between groups were determined using Chi-square, Student’s t, Mann–Whitney U and 1-way ANOVA tests.ResultsCompared with the general group, patients with KBD reported a higher number of pain sites (7.2±3.8 vs 3.5± 1.8), a higher frequency of persistent pain (98.8% vs 50.9%), a higher percentage of analgesics usage (89.2% vs 30.7%), a higher pain intensity (73.8±15.2 vs 50.0±20.7) and pain –related disability (61.2±23.3 vs 41.6±23.2), and lower EQ-5D scores (0.34±0.27 vs 0.59±0.16). Among the 167 KBD patients, painful joints were symmetrically distributed between the bilateral limbs; the 5 most frequently reported painful joints for the bilateral sides were the knees (84.8%), ankles (79.2%), wrists (51.2%), shoulders (49.5%) and elbows (47.7%). The most severe pain joint was the knee (NRS:6.6), followed by the ankles (NRS:5.1), the fingers, shoulders and elbows had the similar NRS scores (NRS:4.0). Additionally, KBD patients experienced neuropathic pain to varying degrees. Compared to males, females reported a higher number of total pain sites, higher intensity and lower quality of life. ConclusionsBesides multisite pain, the KBD patients suffered from symmetrical, persistent, and neuropathic pain. Weight-bearing joints (e.g., knee and ankle) were the most painful. These findings will provide scientific basis for establishing joint pain evaluation criteria and future pain intervention strategies for these KBD patients in China.