RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is the most commonly used instrument for clinical evaluation of the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in dermatological research protocols. The DLQI's classical psychometric properties have been considered adequate in validation studies from several countries. However, the structure of the DLQI is a matter of discussion, especially concerning the dimensionality and informative properties of its questions according to the item response theory (IRT). METHODS: Pooled data from studies in Brazil that utilized the DLQI to assess HRQOL in 14 dermatoses were reanalyzed. Classical psychometrical analysis, dimensionality assessment through parallel analysis and IRT (Samejima's ordinal model) analysis were performed. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1286 patients with a mean age of 47 years (SD = 16), and the proportion of women was 59% (765). The DLQI scores ranged from 0 to 29, with a median (p25-p75) of 5 (2-11). All items indicated significant correlations with the total DLQI score (rho > 0.54). The Cronbach's alpha result was 0.90 (CI 95% 0.89-0.91). Parallel analysis indicated a unidimensional factor structure. According to IRT analysis, items q6 (sports) and q7 (work/study) exhibited insufficient fit to the model (p < 0.01), while the items that indicated the best discrimination and information functions were q2 (embarrassment), q3 (shopping/gardening), q4 (clothing) and q5 (social/leisure). The ordination of the scores was confirmed for all items. Most items revealed non-uniform behavior according to sex, age and type of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The DLQI exhibits adequate psychometric reliability and a unidimensional structure for assessing HRQOL in Brazilian dermatological patients. The DLQI's performance varies in the assessment of HRQOL in heterogeneous samples.
Assuntos
Qualidade de Vida , Dermatopatias/psicologia , Inquéritos e Questionários/normas , Adulto , Brasil , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Psicometria/instrumentação , Reprodutibilidade dos TestesRESUMO
Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis-like skin eruption is a rare syndrome that usually occurs in patients with immunodeficiency, predisposing them to infections with human papilloma ß virus (HPV). We report here an HIV patient presenting with this syndrome.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of masked hypertension in normotensive type 2 diabetic patients on microvascular complications and echocardiographic parameters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 135 normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients underwent urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) measurement, echocardiography, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Patients with increased daytime blood pressure levels (> or = 135/85 mmHg) were classified as having masked hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of masked hypertension was 30% (n = 41). Normotensive and masked hypertensive subjects, based on ambulatory blood pressure, were not different in terms of age, diabetes duration, smoking status, BMI, waist circumference, serum creatinine, glycemic, or lipid profiles. The office systolic blood pressure was higher in those with masked hypertension (127.8 +/- 7.5 vs. 122.9 +/- 10.2 mmHg, P = 0.003) than in the normotensive group. UAER also was increased in the group with masked hypertension (21.3 microg/min [range 2.5-1,223.5] vs. 8.1 microg/min [1.0-1,143.0], P = 0.001), as was the interventricular septum (1.01 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.94 +/- 0.13 cm, P = 0.015) and posterior wall (0.96 +/- 0.12 vs. 0.90 +/- 0.10 cm, P = 0.006) thickness. After adjustments for diabetes duration, sex, smoking, LDL cholesterol, and A1C values, all associations were sustained for daytime systolic blood pressure but not for office systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetic patients with masked hypertension have higher UAER as well as enlargement of ventricular walls compared with the normotensive patients, according to ABPM. Therefore, ABPM is important to identify this high-risk group so as to be able to take interventionist measures.