Validation of a cross-NTD toolkit for assessment of NTD-related morbidity and disability. A cross-cultural qualitative validation of study instruments in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are not fatal, but they are disabling, disfiguring and stigmatizing. More accurate data on these aspects would benefit planning, monitoring and evaluation of interventions, as well as provision of appropriate services for the often life-long consequences. In 2015, a cross-NTD toolkit was developed, consisting of a variety of existing questionnaires to measure morbidity, disability and health-related quality of life. The toolkit covers the domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. These tools have been developed in a source country, however, it was intended for the cross-NTD toolkit to be applicable across NTDs in many countries with different cultures and languages in order to generate universally comparative data. Therefore; the present study aimed to validate several tools of the toolkit among people affected by leprosy or leishmaniasis in the cultural settings of Cartagena and Cúcuta, Colombia. METHODOLOGY: This study aimed to validate the following tools among 55 participants between 18-85 years old, affected by leprosy and leishmaniasis: (I) Clinical Profile, (II) Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ), (III) WHO Quality of Life assessment-abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF), and (IV) WHO Quality of Life assessment-Disability (WHOQOL-DIS). The tools were administered during face-to-face interviews and were followed by open questions about the respondents' thoughts on format of the tool and the understanding, relevance and acceptability of the items. The tools were validated using a qualitative method approach based on the framework for cultural equivalence, measured by the cultural, item, semantic and operational equivalences. RESULTS: The Clinical Profile was seen as acceptable and relevant, only the semantic equivalence was not as satisfying and needs a few adaptations. The SRQ was very well understood and shows to reach the equivalences for the population of Colombia without any additional changes. Several items of the WHOQOL-BREF and the WHOQOL-DIS were not well understood and changes are recommended due to semantic difficulties. Operational equivalence of both questionnaires was not as desired in relation to the used response scales. The participants shared that the tools are relevant and important for their particular situation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The SRQ is found to be a valid tool for Colombia and can be included in the cross-NTD toolkit. The Clinical Profile, WHOQOL-BREF & WHOQOL-DIS need changes and retesting among Colombian people affected by an NTD. The toolkit as a whole is seen as useful to show the effects leprosy and leishmaniasis have on the participants. This cultural validation will contribute to a universally applicable cross-NTD toolkit.

The first Latin-American risk stratification system for cardiac surgery: can be used as a graphic pocket-card score.

This study aims to develop the first Latin-American risk model that can be used as a simple, pocket-card graphic score at bedside. The risk model was developed on 2903 patients who underwent cardiac surgery at the Spanish Hospital of Buenos Aires, Argentina, between June 1994 and December 1999. Internal validation was performed on 708 patients between January 2000 and June 2001 at the same center. External validation was performed on 1087 patients between February 2000 and January 2007 at three other centers in Argentina. In the development dataset the area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was 0.73 and the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) test was P=0.88. In the internal validation ROC curve was 0.77. In the external validation ROC curve was 0.81, but imperfect calibration was detected because the observed in-hospital mortality (3.96%) was significantly lower than the development dataset (8.20%) (P<0.0001). Recalibration was done in 2007, showing excellent level of agreement between the observed and predicted mortality rates on all patients (P=0.92). This is the first risk model for cardiac surgery developed in a population of Latin-America with both internal and external validation. A simple graphic pocket-card score allows an easy bedside application with acceptable statistic precision.

Valor clínico de la utilización del strain rate sistólico en el estudio de distintas formas de hipertrofia ventricular izquierda / Clinical Value of Systolic Strain Rate Utilization in the Assessment of Different Types of Left Ventricle Hypertrophy

Introducción La hipertrofia del ventrículo izquierdo (HVI) incluye diferentes etiologías, estados evolutivos y pronóstico. El strain rate sistólico (SRS) o estudio de la deformación miocárdica permite analizar la función sistólica regional al evaluar la velocidad de acortamiento miocárdico en función del tiempo, con independencia del movimiento traslativo del corazón o del tironeamiento de estructuras vecinas. Objetivo Determinar la utilidad del strain rate sistólico para diferenciar formas de hipertrofia del ventrículo izquierdo. Material y métodos La población del estudio estuvo conformada por cuatro grupos: Grupo 1: (G1, n = 10): voluntarios sanos sedentarios; grupo 2 (G2, n = 21): atletas de alto rendimiento con aumento del índice de masa del ventrículo izquierdo (IMVI) > 125 g/m²; grupo 3 (G3, n = 15): pacientes hipertensos según VII JNC con IMVI > 125 g/m² y grupo 4 (G4, n = 12): pacientes con miocardiopatía hipertrófica (MCH), septum > 15 mm y/o relación septum/pared posterior > 1,5:1, sin causa que lo justifique. Resultados En los grupos con IMVI incrementado no hubo diferencia en la fracción de acortamiento mesoparietal (p = 0,3) o el IMVI (p = 0,6). SRS 01 seg (G1) 0,75 1/s, (G2) 0,87 1/s, (G3) 0,57 1/s, (G4) 0,29 1/s (p < 0,001). SRS 02 seg (G1) 0,67 1/s, (G2) 0,52 1/s, (G3) 0,49 1/s (G4) 0,18 1/s (p < 0,001). SRS 03 seg (G1) 0,57 1/s, (G2) 0,38 1/s, (G3) 0,25 1/s (G4) 0,11 1/s (p < 0,002). EL SRS permitió diferenciar MCH en deportistas durante toda la sístole. Conclusión El acortamiento sistólico regional determinado por SRS está disminuido en la MCH. La utilización de esta técnica permite diferenciar formas de hipertrofia patológica de la hipertrofia fisiológica.

Introduction Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) includes different etiologies, evolution status and prognosis. Systolic strain rate (SSR) or myocardial deformation assessment allows analyzing the regional systolic function by assessing myocardial shortening velocity throughout time, independently of the translation movement of the heart or pulling of neighboring structures. Objective To determine if the systolic strain rate is a useful resource to differentiate types of left ventricle hypertrophy. Material and methods Study population included four groups: Group 1 (G1, n=10): healthy sedentary volunteers; Group 2 (G2, n=21): highperformance athletes with left ventricle mass index increase (LVMI) >125 g/m²; Group 3 (G3, n=15): hypertensive patients according to VII JNC with LVMI >125 g/m² and Group 4 (G4, n=12): patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), septum >15 mm and/or posterior septum/wall relation >1,5:1, without any cause. Results There were no differences between groups with increased LVMI in mesoparietal shortening fraction (p=0.3) or LVMI (p=0.6). SRS 01 sec (G1) 0.75 1/s. (G2) 0.87 1/s; (G3) 0.57 1/s; (G4) 0.29 1/s (p<0.001). SRS 02 sec (G1) 0.7 1/s, (G2) 0.52 1/s, (G3) 0.49 1/s (G4) 0.18 1/s (p<0.001). SRS 03 sec (G1) 0.57 1/s, (G2) 0.38 1/s, (G3) 0.25 1/s (G4) 0.11 1/s (p<0,002). SSR allows differentiating HCM in athletes during the systole. Conclusion Regional systolic shortening assessed by SSR is decreased in HCM. The use of this technique allows differentiating types of pathological hypertrophy from physiological hypertrophy.