Further Clinical Validation of the Walking Impairment Questionnaire for Classification of Walking Performance in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to further validate the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ) as a self-report tool to aid in the clinical identification of walking ability of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). 132 patients with PAD and an ankle brachial index (ABI) ≤0.90 were enrolled; 123 provided complete data for the WIQ and standardized graded treadmill test. The WIQ scores were consistent with reported scores in other studies. The absolute claudication distance (ACD) ranged from 42.3 to 1589.2 meters; the peak walking time (PWT) ranged from 68 to 1800 seconds. Adjusted WIQ scores were positively and moderately associated with the log transformed ACD and PWT (r > .53, P < .001). Based on the area under the curve analysis, an overall WIQ score of 42.5 or less identified low performers (sensitivity 0.90, specificity 0.73); the combined subscale score of distance and stair of 75.5 or more identified high performers (sensitivity 0.41, specificity 0.90). We conclude that WIQ cut-offs appropriately classify walking performance in PAD patients, making this a potentially useful clinical tool. Consideration needs to be given to incorporating a standardized WIQ version into practice guidelines and the use of innovative strategies to facilitate clinical uptake.

Coronary Exercise Hyperemia Is Impaired in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

“…The specific procedures for measuring CBV in LAD have been previously described by our laboratory and the reproducibility within subjects has been verified [21–24]. Subjects also completed the walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ), a pen and paper test to evaluate walking performance that correlates to peak walking time and absolute claudication distance in PAD [25]. The WIQ contains 14 questions and each response is weighted based on the difficulty of the task; scores range from 0 to 100 with lower scores indicating worse walking ability (greater impairment).…”

Comparing the Single-item Visual Analog Scale with Multi-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to Diagnose Depression in Patients with Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

“…The sequence of tests was completely random. The cutoff point values for all tests (VAS, HADS, and PHQ-9) to identify different levels of depression were calculated using the sensitivity and specificity of at least 90% (14) and the results are reported in Table 2. The scores higher than 90% sensitivity were considered as the first level.…”

“…Patients were asked to rate their depression during the past 2 weeks between lack of depression and severe depression on the line (14). It is a suitable tool to classify the level of depression and also screen patients with depression (9).…”

“…Total score of this scale ranges from 0 to 63, among which 0 to16, 17 to 29, and 30 to 63 indicate the mild, moderate, and severe depression, respectively (22). BDI is used to screen depression, measure the severity of symptoms, and evaluate the response to the medications and surgery in patients with PD (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). This test has a high internal consistency and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.93, a = 0.91) (23).…”

Efficacy of brief behavioral counselling by allied health professionals to promote physical activity in people with peripheral arterial disease (BIPP): study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial

“…Responses are recorded on a 5-point Likert scale with options of none, slight, some, much, and very/unable. WIQ cut off scores appropriately classify walking performance (absolute claudication distance and peak walking time) assessed by a standardised graded treadmill test in people with PAD [81], and is a valid tool to detect improvement in daily walking ability in people with IC [82]. …”