Reprodutibilidade e validação da versão português do Brasil do questionário duke activity status index para uso em pacientes com hipertensão pulmonar.

Abstract

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation, causing symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, and chest pain. People with PH face challenges related to worsening functionality and consequently in adapting to and maintaining a good quality of life. Therefore, an interdisciplinary treatment approach is necessary, with interventions not only related to the medical treatment of the disease but also to the functional capacity and rehabilitation of these patients. Functional assessment tests, while useful, have limitations regarding cost, time, the need for qualified professionals, and health risks, especially in patients with more severe cases. Thus, simple and safe instruments, such as questionnaires, become promising alternatives for evaluating and developing a therapeutic plan aimed at the rehabilitation of people with PH. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional validation study including 50 adults diagnosed with PH. Participants completed demographic and clinical questionnaires, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and the DASI. The most recent six-minute walk test (6MWT) result was also collected. Results: The sample consisted predominantly of women (88%), with a mean age of 40.38 ± 11.64 years. The most frequent PH etiologies were idiopathic (58%) and congenital heart disease (22%). The mean 6MWT distance was 391.68 ± 190.03 m, and the mean DASI score was 25.26 ± 13.91 METs. There was a good correlation between DASI and 6MWT (r = 0.523), a weak correlation between 6MWT and IPAQ (r = 0.153), and a moderate correlation between DASI and IPAQ (r = 0.282). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.841, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.998, indicating excellent internal consistency and reproducibility. Conclusion: The DASI demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for assessing functional capacity in patients with pulmonary hypertension, proving to be a valid, reliable, and easily applicable tool for clinical practice.