The Persian Version of the Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire: Factor Analysis, Validation, and Initial Clinical Findings

Abstract

Chronic urticaria (CU) also known as chronic idiopathic urticaria results in a lowered quality of life (QoL). Disease specific questionnaires are necessary to assess QoL in CU patients. Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2oL) is the only available and validated disease specific questionnaire in the assessment of QoL in CU patients originally developed in Italian language. The aim of the current study was to develop the Persian version of the CU-Q2oL with an acceptable reliability and validity.
Using the standard methods provided by guidelines, CU-Q2oL was translated into Persian. A total number of 110 patients with confirmed diagnosis of CU were asked to fill the questionnaire. Determination of scales was performed in addition to checking the data for internal consistency and known group validity. Urticaria activity score 7 (UAS-7) was used to assess the severity of the CU in the population study. The 6 dimensional scale of Persian CU-Q2oL was determined using the Exploratory Factor Analysis. About 68% of the variance was explained by these 6 factor structure higher than 59.9% of the original Italian version.
All 6 factors showed acceptable internal consistency as measured by Cronbach α coefficient. There was a  significant  correlation  between  UAS-7  and  total  CU-Q2oL  score.  UAS7  and  the  presence  of angioedema were predictors of CU-Q2oL score.
The Persian version of CU-Q2oL was shown to be a valid and reliable tool to be used in the future clinical studies. Cultural considerations must be kept in mind in adoption of CU-Q2oL to other languages.