Validation of the LupusPRO in Chinese Patients From Hong Kong With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

ObjectiveLupusPRO is a disease-targeted, patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure that was developed and validated for assessment of quality of life in US patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We present results of adapting the LupusPRO into Chinese and testing its psychometric properties in Chinese patients with SLE. MethodsLupusPRO was translated into traditional Chinese, followed by pretesting among native Cantonese Chinese speakers. The translation version was revised based on the feedback obtained. The Chinese language LupusPRO tool was administered along with a generic PRO tool (the Short Form 36 health survey [SF-36]) to ethnic Chinese SLE patients. At the same time, demographic information, clinical data, disease activity (Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment [SELENA] version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index [SLEDAI]), and damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index [SDI]) were obtained. We performed confirmatory factor analysis of the Chinese LupusPRO and evaluated internal consistency reliability, as well as convergent and criterion validity. ResultsAmong the 463 SLE patients (95% women) with a mean SD age of 42.3 +/- 13.5 years, the mean +/- SD physician global assessment score was 0.48 +/- 0.45, the mean +/- SD SELENA-SLEDAI score was 2.9 +/- 3.0, and the mean +/- SD SDI score was 0.7 +/- 1.2. Results of factor analysis conformed to the original LupusPRO model with only minor modifications. The reliability of the LupusPRO domains ranged from 0.60-0.94. LupusPRO domains had correlations as expected with the corresponding SF-36 domains. A significant but weak correlation with disease activity was noted for criterion validity as expected. ConclusionThe Chinese language LupusPRO has fair psychometric properties and may be used in SLE clinical trials.